HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofonderstrepingsteken

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

on-der-stre-ping-s-te-ken

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

/ɔn.dər.ˈstrɛ.pɪŋs.teː.kən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0011000

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ping'). Dutch stress is generally weak, but the penultimate syllable is emphasized in compound words.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

on/ɔn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

der/dər/

Open syllable, unstressed.

stre/strɛ/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ping/pɪŋ/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

s/s/

Syllable consisting of a single consonant, linking element.

te/teː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ken/kən/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

onder(prefix)
+
strep(root)
+
ing(suffix)

Prefix: onder

Old Dutch origin, meaning 'under' or 'below', prepositional prefix.

Root: strep

Germanic origin, derived from 'strepen' (to strike, to line), core meaning of marking.

Suffix: ing

Germanic origin, nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from a verb.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A character or symbol used to underline text.

Translation: Underline character/symbol

Examples:

"Gebruik het *onderstrepingsteken* om belangrijke woorden te benadrukken."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

voetballervoet-bal-ler

Similar CVC syllable structure and stress pattern.

computerprogrammacom-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma

Longer compound noun, but follows the same stress pattern on the penultimate syllable.

telefoonnummerte-le-foon-num-mer

Another compound noun with stress on the penultimate syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are maximized within the onset of a syllable (e.g., 'str-').

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (CV) whenever possible.

Compound Word Syllabification

Compound words are syllabified as a unit, with stress generally falling on the penultimate syllable.

'ng' as a Unit

The 'ng' cluster is treated as a single consonant for syllabification purposes.

Special Considerations

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

The 's' connecting element is treated as a separate syllable due to its function in the compound word.

Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly affect the perceived stress, but the penultimate syllable rule generally holds.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The Dutch word *onderstrepingsteken* (underline character) is a compound noun syllabified as on-der-stre-ping-s-te-ken, with primary stress on 'ping'. It follows standard Dutch syllabification rules favoring open syllables and maximizing onsets, with the 'ng' cluster treated as a single unit. The morphemic breakdown reveals a prefix, root, and suffix of Germanic origin.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: onderstrepingsteken

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word onderstrepingsteken is a compound noun in Dutch. It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the penultimate syllable receives slightly more emphasis. The 'g' is a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/, and the 'teken' is pronounced with a schwa /ə/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters unless they are complex, the word divides as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • onder-: Prefix, originating from Old Dutch under, meaning "under" or "below". Morphological function: prepositional prefix.
  • strep-: Root, derived from the verb strepen (to strike, to line). Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: core meaning of marking.
  • -ing: Suffix, forming a noun from a verb, indicating the action or result of the verb. Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: nominalization.
  • -s-: Connecting element, often used in compound words. Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: linking morphemes.
  • -teken: Noun, meaning "sign" or "mark". Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: denotes the object being created.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: ping. Dutch stress is generally weak and predictable, but in compounds, the stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable of the entire word.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɔn.dər.ˈstrɛ.pɪŋs.teː.kən/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in compound word stress, but the penultimate syllable rule is generally followed. The 'ng' cluster is treated as a single unit for syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role:

onderstrepingsteken functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A character or symbol used to underline text.
  • Translation: Underline character/symbol
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de)
  • Synonyms: onderstreepteken
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "Gebruik het onderstrepingsteken om belangrijke woorden te benadrukken." (Use the underline character to emphasize important words.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • voetballer (football player): voet-bal-ler - Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC). Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • computerprogramma (computer program): com-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma - Longer compound, but follows the same stress pattern on the penultimate syllable.
  • telefoonnummer (telephone number): te-le-foon-num-mer - Another compound noun with stress on the penultimate syllable.

The differences lie in the length and complexity of the morphemes, but the core syllabification and stress rules remain consistent. onderstrepingsteken has a more complex internal structure due to the 'ng' cluster and the connecting 's', but these are handled within the standard rules.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are maximized within the onset of a syllable (e.g., str-).
  • Open Syllable Preference: Dutch favors open syllables (CV) whenever possible.
  • Compound Word Syllabification: Compound words are syllabified as a unit, with stress generally falling on the penultimate syllable.
  • 'ng' as a Unit: The 'ng' cluster is treated as a single consonant for syllabification purposes.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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.