HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofselectiewerkzaamheden

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

se-lec-tie-we-erk-zaam-he-den

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

/səˈlɛkti.əˈʋɛrksaːm.hɛdə(n)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001001

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('zaam').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

se/sə/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

lec/lɛk/

Closed syllable.

tie/ti/

Open syllable.

we/ʋɛ/

Open syllable.

erk/rks/

Closed syllable.

zaam/zaːm/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

he/hɛ/

Open syllable.

den/də(n)/

Closed syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

selectie(prefix)
+
werk(root)
+
zaamheden(suffix)

Prefix: selectie

Latin origin ('selectio'), denotes selection.

Root: werk

Germanic origin, meaning 'work'.

Suffix: zaamheden

Dutch suffixes: 'zaam' (quality/capability), 'heden' (pluralization/nominalization).

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Selection activities or operations.

Translation: Selection activities or operations

Examples:

"De selectiewerkzaamheden zijn bijna voltooid."

"De selectiewerkzaamheden werden uitgevoerd door een commissie."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

werkloosheidwer-loos-heid

Shares similar vowel-consonant syllable structure.

verantwoordelijkheidver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid

Complex compound word, demonstrating vowel-centered syllable formation.

voorbereidingenvoor-be-rei-ding-en

Similar compound structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Centered Syllables

Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel typically forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Consonant Clusters

Consonants following a vowel typically form a syllable boundary, unless they create an overly complex syllable structure.

Special Considerations

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

Pronunciation of 'r' can vary regionally (uvular vs. alveolar).

Final 'n' in 'heden' is often reduced or elided in informal speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'selectiewerkzaamheden' is a Dutch compound noun divided into eight syllables based on vowel-centered syllable formation. Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('zaam'). The word is morphologically complex, combining Latin and Germanic roots with Dutch suffixes. Regional variations affect the pronunciation of 'r' and the final 'n'.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: selectiewerkzaamheden

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "selectiewerkzaamheden" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "selection activities" or "selection operations." It's a relatively long word, typical of Dutch, which frequently forms new words by concatenating existing ones. Pronunciation involves a mix of vowel qualities and consonant clusters common in Dutch.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting diphthongs or consonant clusters where possible, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • selectie-: Prefix/Root - Derived from the Latin "selectio" (selection). Morphological function: denotes the act of selecting.
  • werk-: Root - Germanic origin, meaning "work." Morphological function: core concept of activity.
  • zaam-: Suffix - Dutch suffix indicating quality or capability. Derived from Middle Dutch. Morphological function: forms adjectives from nouns or verbs.
  • heden: Suffix - Dutch suffix indicating pluralization and nominalization. Morphological function: turns the adjective into a plural noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ("zaam-"). Dutch stress is generally penultimate, but compound words can have secondary stresses.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/səˈlɛkti.əˈʋɛrksaːm.hɛdə(n)/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • se-: /sə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • lec-: /lɛk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable boundary. No exceptions.
  • tie-: /ti/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • we-: /ʋɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • erk-: /rks/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable boundary. Exception: The 'r' is often vocalized in Dutch, but here it maintains a consonant sound.
  • zaam-: /zaːm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable boundary. This syllable receives primary stress.
  • he-: /hɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • den: /də(n)/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable boundary. The final 'n' is often reduced or elided in rapid speech.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'r' in "erk-" can be a point of variation. In some dialects, it's more strongly pronounced, while in others, it's almost vocalized. The final 'n' in "heden" is also prone to reduction.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its role within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: selectiewerkzaamheden
  • Part of Speech: Noun (plural)
  • Definitions:
    • "Selection activities"
    • "Selection operations"
  • Translation: English: "selection activities" or "selection operations"
  • Synonyms: keuzeprocedures (choice procedures), selectieprocessen (selection processes)
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "De selectiewerkzaamheden zijn bijna voltooid." (The selection activities are almost completed.)
    • "De selectiewerkzaamheden werden uitgevoerd door een commissie." (The selection operations were carried out by a committee.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations & Regional Variations:

Regional variations primarily affect the pronunciation of the 'r' and the final 'n'. In some regions, the 'r' is uvular (like in French), while in others, it's alveolar. The final 'n' is often dropped in informal speech. These variations don't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • werkloosheid (unemployment): wer-loos-heid. Similar syllable structure with vowel-consonant patterns.
  • verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility): ver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid. More complex, but shares the principle of syllable formation around vowel sounds.
  • voorbereidingen (preparations): voor-be-rei-ding-en. Similar compound structure and stress pattern.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying consonant clusters and the length of the word. However, the underlying principle of vowel-centered syllables remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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.