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Hyphenation ofwaterleidingbedrijven

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

wa-ter-lei-ding-be-drijf-ven

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

/ˈʋaːtərˌlɛi̯dəŋbəˈdrɛivən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100100

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('drijf') in 'bedrijven'. The first syllable ('wa') also receives some emphasis, but is less prominent.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

wa/ʋaː/

Open syllable, vowel is long.

ter/tər/

Closed syllable.

lei/lɛi̯/

Open syllable containing a diphthong.

ding/dɪŋ/

Closed syllable with 'ng' cluster.

be/bə/

Open syllable.

drijf/drɛif/

Closed syllable.

ven/vən/

Open syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
waterleidingbedrijf(root)
+
-en(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: waterleidingbedrijf

Compound root combining elements related to water, leading, and enterprise.

Suffix: -en

Plural suffix of Germanic origin.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Companies or organizations responsible for the supply of water.

Translation: Water supply companies

Examples:

"De waterleidingbedrijven investeren in nieuwe technologie."

"De kwaliteit van het water wordt gecontroleerd door de waterleidingbedrijven."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

watermeloenwa-ter-me-loen

Shares the 'water' root and similar initial syllable structure.

bedrijfswagenbe-drijf-swa-gen

Shares the 'bedrijf' root and demonstrates a similar compound structure.

leidinggevendlei-ding-ge-vend

Shares the 'leiding' root and exhibits similar syllabification of that component.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors CV syllables, leading to divisions that maximize open syllables.

Diphthong Integrity

Diphthongs like 'ei' are not broken across syllable boundaries.

Consonant Cluster Avoidance

Consonant clusters are generally avoided at the end of syllables, though 'ng' is treated as a single unit.

Compound Word Syllabification

Compounds are syllabified based on the individual morphemes.

Special Considerations

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

The 'ij' diphthong is a key feature of Dutch phonology and influences syllabification.

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

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'waterleidingbedrijven' is a Dutch compound noun meaning 'water supply companies'. It is syllabified into seven syllables (wa-ter-lei-ding-be-drijf-ven) following Dutch rules that prioritize open syllables and avoid breaking up diphthongs. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('drijf'). The word is morphologically composed of 'water', 'leiding', 'bedrijf', and the plural suffix '-en'.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "waterleidingbedrijven" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "waterleidingbedrijven" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "water supply companies". It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives slightly more emphasis. The 'g' is a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/, and the 'ij' is a diphthong /ɛi/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV structure) and avoid breaking up diphthongs, the word divides as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • water-: From Germanic roots, meaning "water".
  • leiding-: From "leiden" (to lead, to guide), referring to the pipes or conduits.
  • bedrijf-: From Middle Dutch "bedrīve", meaning "business, enterprise, company". Ultimately from Old High German "biritīwa" (business).
  • -en: Plural suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

Dutch stress is generally on the penultimate syllable (second to last). However, in compounds, the stress can be more distributed. In this case, the primary stress falls on "rij" in "bedrijven".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈʋaːtərˌlɛi̯dəŋbəˈdrɛivən/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch syllabification can be complex with compounds. The rule of avoiding consonant clusters at the end of a syllable is generally followed, but exceptions exist. The 'ng' cluster is treated as a single unit in many cases.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is exclusively a noun. Its syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Companies or organizations responsible for the supply of water.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de waterleidingbedrijven)
  • Translation: Water supply companies
  • Synonyms: watermaatschappijen, waterwerken
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples:
    • "De waterleidingbedrijven investeren in nieuwe technologie." (The water supply companies are investing in new technology.)
    • "De kwaliteit van het water wordt gecontroleerd door de waterleidingbedrijven." (The quality of the water is monitored by the water supply companies.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "watermeloen" (watermelon): wa-ter-me-loen. Similar initial syllable structure.
  • "bedrijfswagen" (company car): be-drijf-swa-gen. Shares the "bedrijf" root and similar compound structure.
  • "leidinggevend" (leading): lei-ding-ge-vend. Shares the "leiding" root and demonstrates similar syllabification of that component.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying suffixes and final consonants. The rule of avoiding final consonant clusters is consistently applied.

10. Division Rules:

  • Open Syllable Preference: Dutch favors CV syllables.
  • Diphthong Integrity: Diphthongs like "ei" are not broken across syllable boundaries.
  • Consonant Cluster Avoidance: Consonant clusters are generally avoided at the end of syllables.
  • Compound Word Syllabification: Compounds are syllabified based on the individual morphemes.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'ij' diphthong is a key feature of Dutch phonology and influences syllabification. The 'ng' cluster is treated as a single unit. The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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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.