HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofgezinsvriendelijker

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ge-zins-vriend-e-lijk-er

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

/ɣəˈzɪnsˌvriːndəˌlɛi̯kər/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('vriend').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ge/ɣə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

zins/zɪns/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

vriend/vriːnd/

Closed syllable, stressed.

e/ə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

lijk/lɛi̯k/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

er/ər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ge-(prefix)
+
vriend(root)
+
-er(suffix)

Prefix: ge-

Dutch prefix forming adjectives, often indicating a quality or state.

Root: vriend

Dutch root meaning 'friend', from Proto-Germanic *frijōndz*.

Suffix: -er

Dutch comparative suffix, meaning 'more'.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

More family-friendly

Translation: More family-friendly

Examples:

"Dit hotel is gezinsvriendelijker dan het vorige."

"We zoeken een gezinsvriendelijkere buurt."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

werksituatiewer-si-tu-a-tie

Similar structure with multiple syllables and consonant clusters.

levensstandaardle-vens-stan-daard

Demonstrates the typical Dutch pattern of compounding and syllabification.

onderwijssysteemon-der-wijs-sys-teem

Shows how interfixes and compound words are syllabified.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Consonant Cluster Maximization

Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (onset).

Vowel as Syllable Nucleus

Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus.

Compound Word Syllabification

Compound words are often broken down at the points where the individual words join, often marked by an interfix.

Suffix Syllabification

Suffixes are generally treated as separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The 'ge-' prefix can sometimes blend with the following syllable, but maintains its syllabic identity.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The Dutch adjective 'gezinsvriendelijker' (more family-friendly) is syllabified as ge-zins-vriend-e-lijk-er, with stress on 'vriend'. It's formed from a prefix, roots, suffixes, and an interfix, following Dutch rules of maximizing onsets and ensuring a vowel nucleus in each syllable.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "gezinsvriendelijker" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "gezinsvriendelijker" is a Dutch adjective meaning "more family-friendly." It's a complex word formed through derivation. Pronunciation involves a mix of vowel qualities and consonant clusters typical of Dutch.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ge- (Dutch, prefix forming adjectives from verbs or nouns, often indicating a quality or state)
  • Root: zin (Dutch, meaning 'sense', 'meaning', or 'family' in this context, from Proto-Germanic sinaz)
  • Interfix: -s- (Dutch, common interfix used in compound words)
  • Root: vriend (Dutch, meaning 'friend', from Proto-Germanic frijōndz)
  • Suffix: -elijk (Dutch, adjective-forming suffix, equivalent to English '-ly' or '-able')
  • Suffix: -er (Dutch, comparative suffix, meaning 'more')

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: vriend-e-lij-ker.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɣəˈzɪnsˌvriːndəˌlɛi̯kər/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch syllabification generally follows the principle of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable). However, vowel clusters can sometimes lead to ambiguity. In this case, the vowel clusters are resolved based on established pronunciation patterns.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Gezinsvriendelijker" functions primarily as an adjective. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: More family-friendly.
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Translation: More family-friendly
  • Synonyms: Gezinsgericht, kindvriendelijk (child-friendly)
  • Antonyms: Ongezinsvriendelijk (not family-friendly)
  • Examples:
    • "Dit hotel is gezinsvriendelijker dan het vorige." (This hotel is more family-friendly than the previous one.)
    • "We zoeken een gezinsvriendelijkere buurt." (We are looking for a more family-friendly neighborhood.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "werksituatie" (work situation): wer-si-tu-a-tie - Similar structure with multiple syllables and consonant clusters.
  • "levensstandaard" (standard of living): le-vens-stan-daard - Demonstrates the typical Dutch pattern of compounding and syllabification.
  • "onderwijssysteem" (education system): on-der-wijs-sys-teem - Shows how interfixes and compound words are syllabified.

The differences lie in the specific consonant and vowel combinations, but the underlying syllabification principles remain consistent. Dutch favors maximizing onsets, and syllables generally end in vowels.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Consonant Cluster Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (onset). (Applied to vriend, lijk)
  • Rule 2: Vowel as Syllable Nucleus: Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus. (Applied throughout the word)
  • Rule 3: Compound Word Syllabification: Compound words are often broken down at the points where the individual words join, often marked by an interfix. (Applied to gezins-vriend)
  • Rule 4: Suffix Syllabification: Suffixes are generally treated as separate syllables. (Applied to -elijk, -er)

11. Special Considerations:

The "ge-" prefix is often unstressed and can sometimes blend with the following syllable, but it maintains its separate syllabic identity. The vowel clusters are pronounced as diphthongs or monophthongs depending on regional variations.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch. For example, the /ɛi̯/ in -elijk might be pronounced slightly differently in different parts of the Netherlands or Belgium. This doesn't significantly alter the syllabification, however.

13. Short Analysis:

"Gezinsvriendelijker" is a complex Dutch adjective meaning "more family-friendly." It's syllabified as ge-zins-vriend-e-lij-ker, with stress on the penultimate syllable. The word is formed from a prefix, two roots, two suffixes, and an interfix. Syllabification follows Dutch rules of maximizing onsets and ensuring each syllable has a vowel nucleus.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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 process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.