HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofinspecteurs-generaal

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-spec-teurs-ge-ne-raal

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

/ɪnspektœrs ɣəneˈraːl/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('raal') of 'generaal', following typical Dutch stress patterns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɪn/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

spec/spɛk/

Closed syllable, containing a consonant cluster.

teurs/tœrs/

Closed syllable, containing a consonant cluster.

ge/ɣə/

Open syllable, reduced vowel.

ne/nə/

Open syllable, reduced vowel.

raal/raːl/

Open syllable, stressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

inspect-(prefix)
+
generaal(root)
+
-eurs(suffix)

Prefix: inspect-

Derived from French 'inspecteur' (Latin 'inspectare'), indicating examination.

Root: generaal

Derived from French 'général' (Latin 'generalis'), meaning general.

Suffix: -eurs

Indicates plural form of the agent noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

High-ranking inspectors, typically overseeing a specific area or department.

Translation: Inspectors-General

Examples:

"De inspecteurs-generaal houden toezicht op de naleving van de wetgeving."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

rekeningre-ke-ning

Similar consonant clusters and vowel structure, but shorter.

universiteitu-ni-ver-si-teit

Longer word with multiple syllables and vowel sounds.

administratiead-mi-ni-stra-tie

Similar length and complexity with consonant clusters.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-centric Syllabification

Dutch prioritizes vowels as syllable nuclei, dividing the word around vowel sounds.

Avoidance of Diphthong Splitting

Diphthongs are kept intact within a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Management

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally large or difficult to pronounce.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word influences the syllable division.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist, but do not significantly alter the syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The Dutch word 'inspecteurs-generaal' is divided into six syllables: in-spec-teurs-ge-ne-raal. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('raal'). The word is a compound noun derived from French and Latin roots, meaning 'Inspectors-General'. Syllabification follows vowel-centric rules, avoiding diphthong splitting and managing consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "inspecteurs-generaal" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "inspecteurs-generaal" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "inspectors-general". It's a relatively long word, and its pronunciation involves several vowel and consonant clusters. The pronunciation is [ɪnspektœrs ɣəneˈraːl].

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting diphthongs or consonant clusters where possible, the word is divided as follows (see "syllable_division" in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • inspecteurs: Prefix/Root - Derived from French "inspecteur" (Latin "inspectare" - to examine). Morphological function: Noun, plural form indicating those who inspect.
  • generaal: Root - Derived from French "général" (Latin "generalis" - general). Morphological function: Noun, indicating a general or high-ranking officer.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of "generaal", making it "ge-ne-ˈraːl". This is typical for Dutch words.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪnspektœrs ɣəneˈraːl/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for complex consonant clusters, and this word contains several. Syllabification aims to break the word at points that minimize these clusters within syllables. The "-rs" ending in "inspecteurs" is a common feature and doesn't pose a significant challenge.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. There are no syllabification or stress shifts based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: inspecteurs-generaal
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
  • English Translation: Inspectors-General
  • Synonyms: hoofinspecteurs (chief inspectors), algemene inspecteurs (general inspectors)
  • Antonyms: (Context-dependent, e.g., inspectanten - those being inspected)
  • Examples:
    • "De inspecteurs-generaal houden toezicht op de naleving van de wetgeving." (The Inspectors-General supervise compliance with the legislation.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • rekening: /rəˈkeːnɪŋ/ - Syllables: re-ke-ning. Similar in having consonant clusters, but shorter. Stress on the second syllable.
  • universiteit: /ynivərsiˈtɛit/ - Syllables: u-ni-ver-si-teit. Longer, with more vowel sounds. Stress on the fourth syllable.
  • administratie: /admiˈnistraːtsi/ - Syllables: ad-mi-ni-stra-tie. Similar in length and complexity, with consonant clusters. Stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable division and stress placement are due to the varying vowel and consonant sequences in each word, and the application of Dutch stress rules (penultimate syllable stress in many cases).

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch. The vowel in "generaal" might be slightly different depending on the region, but this doesn't significantly affect the syllable division.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-centric Syllabification: Dutch prioritizes vowels as syllable nuclei.
  • Avoidance of Diphthong Splitting: Diphthongs are kept intact within a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Management: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally large or difficult to pronounce.
  • Penultimate Stress: Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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 dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.