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Hyphenation ofverjaardagsgeschenkje

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ver-jaar-daags-ge-schenk-je

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

/vərˈjaːrdɑɣsɣəˈʃɛŋkje/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000010

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable 'schenk'. Dutch generally stresses the penultimate syllable.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ver/vər/

Open syllable, unstressed.

jaar/jaːr/

Open syllable, unstressed.

daags/daːɣs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ge/ɣə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

schenk/ʃɛŋk/

Closed syllable, stressed.

je/kje/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ver-(prefix)
+
jaar, dag, schenk(root)
+
-je(suffix)

Prefix: ver-

Germanic origin, intensifying or 'for' meaning.

Root: jaar, dag, schenk

Germanic origins, meaning 'year', 'day', and 'gift' respectively.

Suffix: -je

Germanic origin, diminutive suffix indicating smallness or endearment.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A birthday present.

Translation: Birthday present

Examples:

"Ik kreeg een leuk verjaardagsgeschenkje van mijn vriendin."

"Het verjaardagsgeschenkje was zorgvuldig ingepakt."

Synonyms: cadeau, present
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

verjaardagver-jaar-dag

Shares the 'verjaar' root, demonstrating similar syllabification patterns.

geschenkge-schenk

Shares the 'schenk' root, illustrating consistent syllabification of this morpheme.

cadeautjeca-deau-tje

Contains the diminutive suffix '-je', similar to 'verjaardagsgeschenkje', and follows the same stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (ending in a vowel) whenever possible. This is applied throughout the word.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are maintained within syllables unless they can be broken to create open syllables.

Morpheme Boundary Respect

Syllable divisions generally respect morpheme boundaries, separating prefixes, roots, and suffixes.

Special Considerations

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

Dutch compound words can sometimes have debated syllabifications, but the presented division is consistent with standard practice.

The linking element '-s-' is treated as part of the preceding syllable ('daags').

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'verjaardagsgeschenkje' is a compound noun syllabified based on Dutch rules prioritizing open syllables and respecting morpheme boundaries. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable 'schenk'. The word consists of a prefix ('ver-'), roots ('jaar', 'dag', 'schenk'), and a diminutive suffix ('-je').

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: verjaardagsgeschenkje

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "verjaardagsgeschenkje" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "birthday present." It's a relatively long word, typical of Dutch, formed by concatenating several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a mix of voiced and voiceless consonants, and vowel qualities that are crucial for distinguishing meaning in Dutch.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (syllables ending in a vowel) whenever possible, and respecting consonant clusters, the division is as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • ver-: Prefix (origin: Germanic), meaning "for" or intensifying the following verb.
  • jaar: Root (origin: Germanic), meaning "year."
  • dag: Root (origin: Germanic), meaning "day."
  • -s-: Linking element, connecting the compound parts.
  • ge-: Prefix (origin: Germanic), forming a noun from a verb.
  • schenk: Root (origin: Germanic), meaning "gift" or "to give."
  • -je: Diminutive suffix (origin: Germanic), indicating smallness or endearment.

4. Stress Identification:

Dutch stress is generally on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable of a word. In this case, the primary stress falls on "schenk".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/vərˈjaːrdɑɣsɣəˈʃɛŋkje/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for relatively flexible compound word formation. The syllabification of compounds can sometimes be debated, but the presented division adheres to the principle of maximizing open syllables and respecting morpheme boundaries.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification doesn't significantly shift based on grammatical role, as Dutch doesn't have extensive vowel reduction or stress shifts based on part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: verjaardagsgeschenkje
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • "A birthday present."
    • "A small, endearing birthday gift."
  • Translation: Birthday present
  • Synonyms: cadeau (gift), present
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "Ik kreeg een leuk verjaardagsgeschenkje van mijn vriendin." (I received a nice birthday present from my girlfriend.)
    • "Het verjaardagsgeschenkje was zorgvuldig ingepakt." (The birthday present was carefully wrapped.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • verjaardag: /vərˈjaːrdɑɣ/ - Syllables: ver-jaar-dag. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • geschenk: /ɣəˈʃɛŋk/ - Syllables: ge-schenk. Similar root, stress pattern.
  • cadeautje: /kaˈdoːtʃə/ - Syllables: ca-deau-tje. Diminutive suffix "-je" is similar, stress on the penultimate syllable.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying consonant clusters and vowel lengths within each word. Dutch syllable structure allows for complex consonant clusters, which are handled by adhering to the open syllable preference where possible.

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

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.