HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofonwetenschappelijke

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

on-wet-en-schap-pe-lij-ke

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

/ɔnˈʋɛtə(n)sxɑpələˈɛkə/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001001

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

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

on/ɔn/

Open syllable, vowel-final.

wet/ʋɛt/

Closed syllable, consonant-final.

en/ə(n)/

Open syllable, schwa vowel, potential elision of 'n'

schap/sxɑp/

Closed syllable, primary stress, 'sch' as a single onset.

pe/pə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

lij/lɛi/

Closed syllable, diphthong.

ke/kə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

on(prefix)
+
wetenschap(root)
+
elijk(suffix)

Prefix: on

Old Dutch/Germanic origin, negation

Root: wetenschap

Dutch, 'knowledge' + 'condition/state'

Suffix: elijk

Germanic origin, adjective-forming

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not scientific

Translation: Unscientific

Examples:

"Zijn beweringen waren onwetenschappelijk."

"De methode is onwetenschappelijk en onbetrouwbaar."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

wetenschappelijkwet-en-schap-pe-lijk

Similar root and suffix structure.

onmogelijkon-mo-ge-lijk

Shares the 'on-' prefix and similar suffix structure.

voorschotelijkvoor-schot-e-lijk

Shares the '-elijk' suffix and consonant clusters.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Final Syllables

Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.

Consonant-Final Syllables

A consonant following a vowel creates a syllable boundary.

Consonant Cluster Treatment

Clusters like 'sch' are treated as single onsets.

Special Considerations

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

The 'sch' cluster is treated as a single unit.

Vowel reduction/elision (e.g., in 'en') is common in rapid speech.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist but do not affect syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'onwetenschappelijke' is divided into seven syllables: on-wet-en-schap-pe-lij-ke. It's formed from the prefix 'on-', the root 'wetenschap', and the suffix '-elijk'. The primary stress falls on the 'schap' syllable. Syllabification follows standard Dutch rules, considering vowel-final and consonant-final syllables, and treating consonant clusters as single units.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "onwetenschappelijke" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "onwetenschappelijke" is a Dutch adjective meaning "unscientific." It's a complex word formed through prefixation and suffixation. Pronunciation involves a mix of vowel qualities and consonant clusters typical of Dutch.

2. Syllable Division:

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

on-wet-en-schap-pe-lij-ke

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: on- (origin: Old Dutch/Germanic). Function: negation.
  • Root: wetenschap (origin: Dutch, composed of wet 'knowledge' and schap 'condition, state, -ship'). Function: noun meaning "science."
  • Suffix: -elijk (origin: Germanic). Function: adjective-forming suffix, equivalent to "-ic" or "-al" in English.
  • Suffix: -e (origin: Germanic). Function: adjectival ending, often used for agreement.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: schap.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɔnˈʋɛtə(n)sxɑpələˈɛkə/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • on-: /ɔn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. No consonant clusters break the syllable.
  • wet-: /ʋɛt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel creates a syllable boundary.
  • en-: /ə(n)/ - Open syllable. Schwa vowel. The (n) is often reduced or elided in rapid speech.
  • schap-: /ˈsxɑp/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster sch is treated as a single onset. Stress falls here.
  • pe-: /pə/ - Open syllable.
  • lij-: /lɛi/ - Closed syllable.
  • ke-: /kə/ - Open syllable.

7. Exceptions & Special Cases:

The sch cluster is a common exception, treated as a single unit for syllabification. The reduced vowel in en is also a common phonetic phenomenon.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification:

As an adjective, the syllabification remains consistent. If it were hypothetically used as a noun (though rare), the stress might shift slightly, but the syllable division would remain the same.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: onwetenschappelijke
  • Part of Speech: Adjective
  • Definitions:
    • "Not scientific"
    • "Unscientific"
  • Translation: Unscientific
  • Synonyms: niet-wetenschappelijk, ongefundeerd (unfounded)
  • Antonyms: wetenschappelijk (scientific), gefundeerd (founded)
  • Examples:
    • "Zijn beweringen waren onwetenschappelijk." (His claims were unscientific.)
    • "De methode is onwetenschappelijk en onbetrouwbaar." (The method is unscientific and unreliable.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of vowels can vary slightly between regions in the Netherlands and Belgium. However, the syllabification remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • wetenschappelijk (scientific): wet-en-schap-pe-lijk. Similar structure, stress on schap.
  • onmogelijk (impossible): on-mo-ge-lijk. Similar prefix on-, closed syllables.
  • voorschotelijk (preliminary): voor-schot-e-lijk. Similar suffix -elijk, consonant clusters.

The consistency in syllabification across these words demonstrates the application of the same core rules. Differences arise due to the varying consonant and vowel combinations within the root.

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.