HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofontwikkelingsbanken

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

on-twik-ke-lings-ban-ken

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

/ɔnˈtʋɪkələŋsˈbɑŋkə(n)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001011

Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('ban').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

on/ɔn/

Open syllable, vowel-initial.

twik/tʋɪk/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'tw' followed by vowel.

ke/kə/

Open syllable, consonant-vowel.

lings/ˈlɪŋs/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'ngs' at the end.

ban/ˈbɑn/

Open syllable, stressed syllable.

ken/kə(n)/

Closed syllable, final 'n' often reduced.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ont-(prefix)
+
wikkel-(root)
+
-ingsbanken(suffix)

Prefix: ont-

Germanic origin, indicates beginning or reversal.

Root: wikkel-

Germanic origin, related to 'wrap' or 'develop'.

Suffix: -ingsbanken

Combination of -ing (process), -s (plural), and -banken (noun root).

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Development banks

Translation: Development banks

Examples:

"De ontwikkelingsbanken investeren in duurzame projecten."

"Het land is afhankelijk van leningen van ontwikkelingsbanken."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

levensstandaardle-vens-stand-aard

Similar compound noun structure with consonant clusters.

werkloosheidscijferswerk-loos-heids-cij-fers

Complex compound noun, demonstrating Dutch compounding rules.

onderwijsbeleidon-der-wijs-be-leid

Demonstrates consistent vowel-centered syllable formation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Centered Syllables

Dutch syllables are generally formed around a vowel, with consonants grouped around them.

Consonant Cluster Maintenance

Pronounceable consonant clusters are typically maintained within a single syllable.

Special Considerations

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

Reduction of final 'n' in 'banken' is common in rapid speech.

The 'ng' cluster is a typical Dutch sound and forms a syllable-closing unit.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'ontwikkelingsbanken' is a complex Dutch noun divided into six syllables: on-twik-ke-lings-ban-ken. The primary stress falls on 'ban'. Syllabification follows vowel-centered rules, accommodating consonant clusters. The word is morphologically complex, built from a prefix, root, and multiple suffixes.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: ontwikkelingsbanken

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "ontwikkelingsbanken" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "development banks". It's pronounced with a relatively complex syllable structure, typical of Dutch, which allows for consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ont- (origin: Germanic, function: prefix indicating 'un-', 'dis-', or 'begin to')
  • Root: wikkel- (origin: Germanic, related to 'wrap', 'fold', 'develop')
  • Suffix 1: -ing- (origin: Germanic, function: forming a present participle or gerund, here indicating a process)
  • Suffix 2: -s- (origin: Germanic, function: plural marker)
  • Suffix 3: -banken- (origin: Germanic, function: noun root meaning 'banks')

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: ont-wik-ke-lings-ban-ken.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɔnˈtʋɪkələŋsˈbɑŋkə(n)/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • on-: /ɔn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel. No exceptions.
  • twik-: /tʋɪk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable if pronounceable. Exception: The 'w' can sometimes be considered a glide, but here it's part of the syllable.
  • ke-: /kə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
  • lings-: /ˈlɪŋs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'ngs' forms a syllable-closing unit. Exception: The 'ng' is a velar nasal, a common Dutch sound.
  • ban-: /ˈbɑn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
  • ken: /kə(n)/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. The final 'n' is often reduced or elided in rapid speech, hence the (n) in the IPA.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for complex consonant clusters, which can make syllabification challenging. The 'ng' cluster is a typical example. The final 'n' in 'banken' is often reduced, but it still influences the syllable structure.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Ontwikkelingsbanken" is exclusively a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: ontwikkelingsbanken
  • Part of Speech: Noun (plural)
  • Definitions:
    • "Development banks"
    • "Institutions that provide financial support for development projects."
  • Translation: Development banks
  • Synonyms: None direct, but related terms include: financieringsinstellingen (financing institutions), investeringsmaatschappijen (investment companies).
  • Antonyms: None direct.
  • Examples:
    • "De ontwikkelingsbanken investeren in duurzame projecten." (The development banks invest in sustainable projects.)
    • "Het land is afhankelijk van leningen van ontwikkelingsbanken." (The country is dependent on loans from development banks.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Dutch pronunciation are relatively minor regarding syllabification. However, the degree of reduction of the final 'n' in 'banken' can vary. Some speakers might pronounce it more distinctly than others.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • levensstandaard (living standard): le-vens-stand-aard. Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters.
  • werkloosheidscijfers (unemployment figures): werk-loos-heids-cij-fers. Demonstrates the compounding nature of Dutch nouns and complex syllable structures.
  • onderwijsbeleid (education policy): on-der-wijs-be-leid. Shows the consistent application of vowel-centered syllable formation.

The differences lie in the specific consonant clusters and vowel qualities, but the underlying syllabification principles remain the same. Dutch consistently prioritizes vowel-centered syllables, even when surrounded by complex consonant clusters.

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 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.