HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofgelegenheidskleding

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ge-le-gen-heid-skle-ding

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ɣə.lə.ɣənˈɦɛit.sklə.dɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000101

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the final compound element 'skleding', specifically on 'skle'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

ge/ɣə/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

le/lə/

Open syllable.

gen/ɣən/

Open syllable.

heid/ɦɛit/

Stressed syllable, closed syllable.

skle/sklə/

Closed syllable, part of the compound.

ding/dɪŋ/

Closed syllable, final syllable of the compound.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

ge-(prefix)
+
legen(root)
+
-heid(suffix)

Prefix: ge-

Dutch formative prefix, often indicating a noun derived from a verb or adjective. Germanic origin.

Root: legen

Dutch root meaning 'to lay', 'to place'. Germanic origin.

Suffix: -heid

Dutch nominalizing suffix forming abstract nouns. Germanic origin.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Clothing worn for special occasions.

Translation: Special occasion clothing

Examples:

"Ze droeg prachtige gelegenheidskleding naar het gala."

"De winkel verkoopt een breed assortiment aan gelegenheidskleding."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

werkloosheidwer-kloos-heid

Similar CVC and CV syllable structure, nominalizing suffix -heid.

verantwoordelijkheidver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid

Longer compound with similar CV/CVC patterns and the -heid suffix.

schooltasschool-tas

Simpler compound, demonstrates division at morpheme boundaries.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors CV syllable structure whenever possible.

Morpheme Boundary

Syllable division often occurs at morpheme boundaries, especially in compound words.

CVC Syllable Structure

Closed syllables (CVC) are permitted, particularly in compound elements.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

Pronunciation of 'g' as /ɣ/ can influence perceived syllable boundaries.

Compound word stress patterns are complex and require consideration of the entire word structure.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'gelegenheidskleding' is a compound noun divided into six syllables: ge-le-gen-heid-skle-ding. Stress falls on 'skle'. Syllable division follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and respecting morpheme boundaries. The word means 'special occasion clothing'.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: gelegenheidskleding

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "gelegenheidskleding" (pronounced roughly as [xə.lə.ɣənˈhɛit.skle.dɪŋ]) refers to special occasion clothing. It's a compound noun, typical of Dutch, and presents challenges due to its length and multiple morphemes.

2. Syllable Division:

ge-le-gen-heid-skle-ding

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ge- (Dutch, formative prefix, often indicating a noun derived from a verb or adjective, or forming a collective noun. Origin: Germanic)
  • Root: legen (Dutch, 'to lay', 'to place'. Origin: Germanic) - forms the base of gelegenheid
  • Suffix 1: -heid (Dutch, nominalizing suffix, forming abstract nouns denoting state or quality. Origin: Germanic)
  • Compound Component: skleding (Dutch, 'clothing'. Origin: Germanic) - itself a compound of skel (shell, husk) and -ing (suffix forming nouns)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the final compound element: skle-ding.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɣə.lə.ɣənˈɦɛit.sklə.dɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • ge-: /ɣə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Dutch generally favors open syllables (CV). No consonant clusters are permitted at the beginning of a syllable unless they are part of a morpheme boundary.
  • le-: /lə/ - Open syllable. Rule: CV syllable structure.
  • gen-: /ɣən/ - Open syllable. Rule: CV syllable structure.
  • heid-: /ˈɦɛit/ - Stress falls here. Rule: Stress in Dutch often falls on the penultimate syllable, but compound words have complex stress patterns.
  • skle-: /sklə/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CVC syllable structure. Consonant clusters are allowed within syllables.
  • ding-: /dɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CVC syllable structure.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch syllable division is relatively straightforward, but compound words like this require careful consideration of morphemic boundaries. The 'g' in gelegenheid is often pronounced as a soft 'ɣ' sound, which can influence perceived syllable boundaries.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: gelegenheidskleding
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • "Clothing worn for special occasions."
    • Translation: Special occasion clothing
  • Synonyms: feestkleding (party clothing), nette kleding (smart clothing)
  • Antonyms: alledaagse kleding (everyday clothing)
  • Examples:
    • "Ze droeg prachtige gelegenheidskleding naar het gala." (She wore beautiful special occasion clothing to the gala.)
    • "De winkel verkoopt een breed assortiment aan gelegenheidskleding." (The store sells a wide range of special occasion clothing.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist, but they don't significantly alter syllable division. Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • werkloosheid (unemployment): wer-kloos-heid - Similar CVC and CV syllable structure. Stress pattern differs.
  • verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility): ver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid - Longer, more complex, but follows similar CV/CVC patterns.
  • schooltas (school bag): school-tas - Simpler compound, but demonstrates the same principle of dividing at morpheme boundaries.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

The hottest word splits in Dutch

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

  • ic-infrastructuur
  • abdiceer
  • Abchazië
  • abcessen
  • Abbekerk
  • abc-boek
  • Abbeweer
  • abubakar
  • abrikoos
  • abattoir
  • absoute
  • abdellah
  • abdullah
  • abdallah
  • absurds
  • absurde
  • abusief
  • abuizen
  • absente
  • absence

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.