HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofontwikkelingsbioloog

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

on-twik-ke-lings-bio-loog

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

/ɔnˈtʋɪkələŋsbiˈloːx/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the 'lings' syllable, the fourth syllable in the word. This is due to the inherent prosodic weight of the morpheme and the overall length of the word.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

on/ɔn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

twik/tʋɪk/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ke/kə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

lings/ləŋs/

Closed syllable, stressed.

bio/biˈoː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

loog/loːx/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

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

Prefix: ont-

Dutch prefix meaning 'un-', 'dis-', or indicating the beginning of an action/state. Germanic origin.

Root: wikkel-

Dutch root related to 'wikkelen' - to wrap, to develop. Germanic origin.

Suffix: -ingsbioloog

Combination of suffixes: -ing- (present participle/gerund), -s- (genitive marker), -bio- (Greek 'life'), -loog (Greek 'ologist').

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A scientist who studies biology, specifically the development of organisms.

Translation: Developmental biologist

Examples:

"De ontwikkelingsbioloog deed onderzoek naar de embryonale ontwikkeling."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

levensloople-vens-loop

Similar compound structure with multiple morphemes.

werkomgevingwerk-om-ge-ving

Similar compound structure with multiple morphemes.

voedingsstoffenvoe-dings-stof-fen

Similar compound structure with multiple morphemes.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (CV). This is applied throughout the word.

Consonant Cluster Resolution

Consonant clusters are broken up to create permissible syllable structures, but morphemic boundaries are respected.

Morpheme Boundary Preservation

Syllable breaks generally avoid splitting morphemes.

Special Considerations

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

The 'bio' and 'loog' segments are treated as relatively fixed units due to their Greek origin.

The 'ng' cluster in 'wikkelings' is a common Dutch consonant cluster and is treated as a single unit.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'ontwikkelingsbioloog' is a complex Dutch compound noun. Syllabification follows Dutch rules prioritizing open syllables and morpheme boundaries. Primary stress falls on the 'lings' syllable. The word is composed of a Germanic prefix and root, combined with Greek-derived suffixes.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: ontwikkelingsbioloog

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "ontwikkelingsbioloog" (developmental biologist) is a compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a series of vowel and consonant clusters, typical of Dutch morphology. The word is relatively long and complex, requiring careful application of Dutch syllabification rules.

2. Syllable Division:

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

on-twik-ke-lings-bio-loog

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ont- (Dutch, prefix meaning 'un-', 'dis-', or indicating the beginning of an action/state). Origin: Germanic.
  • Root: wikkel- (Dutch, related to 'wikkelen' - to wrap, to develop). Origin: Germanic.
  • Suffixes:
    • -ing- (Dutch, forming a present participle or gerund, but here functioning as part of the compound noun). Origin: Germanic.
    • -s- (Dutch, genitive marker, but here part of the compound noun formation). Origin: Germanic.
    • -bio- (Greek, meaning 'life'). Origin: Greek.
    • -loog (Dutch, meaning 'ologist', 'one who studies'). Origin: Greek.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the ling syllable within wikkelings.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɔnˈtʋɪkələŋsbiˈloːx/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch syllabification generally favors open syllables (ending in a vowel). However, consonant clusters are common, and the rules prioritize maintaining morphemic boundaries. The 'bio' and 'loog' segments are relatively stable units and are therefore separated.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it's a compound noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A scientist who studies biology, specifically the development of organisms.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de ontwikkelingsbioloog)
  • Translation: Developmental biologist
  • Synonyms: ontwikkelingswetenschapper (developmental scientist)
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples:
    • "De ontwikkelingsbioloog deed onderzoek naar de embryonale ontwikkeling." (The developmental biologist conducted research into embryonic development.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • levensloop (life course): le-vens-loop. Similar structure with compound elements. Stress on 'vens'.
  • werkomgeving (work environment): werk-om-ge-ving. Similar compound structure. Stress on 'om'.
  • voedingsstoffen (nutrients): voe-dings-stof-fen. Similar compound structure. Stress on 'dings'.

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent prosodic weight of the morphemes and the overall length of the word. Ontwikkelingsbioloog has a longer root and more complex morphology, leading to stress on the ling syllable.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Open Syllable Preference: Dutch favors open syllables (CV). This is applied throughout the word.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Resolution: Consonant clusters are broken up to create permissible syllable structures, but morphemic boundaries are respected.
  • Rule 3: Morpheme Boundary Preservation: Syllable breaks generally avoid splitting morphemes.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'bio' and 'loog' segments are treated as relatively fixed units due to their Greek origin and common occurrence in scientific terminology. The 'ng' cluster in wikkelings is a common Dutch consonant cluster and is treated as a single unit within the syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch, but they do not significantly alter the syllabification. Some speakers might pronounce the 'oo' in 'loog' slightly differently, but the syllable division remains consistent.

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 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.