HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofmolotovcocktail

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

mo-lo-to-v-cock-tail

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

/mɔˈlɔtɔvˈkɔktɛl/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000110

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

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

mo/mɔ/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

lo/lɔ/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

to/tɔ/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

v/v/

Closed syllable, vowel sound.

cock/kɔk/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster.

tail/tɛl/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

mol-(prefix)
+
otov(root)
+
cocktail(suffix)

Prefix: mol-

Origin: Russian surname 'Molotov', naming origin.

Root: otov

Origin: Russian surname 'Molotov', core naming element.

Suffix: cocktail

Origin: English, denotes a mixed explosive device.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A makeshift incendiary weapon consisting of a bottle filled with flammable liquid and a wick.

Translation: Molotov cocktail

Examples:

"Demonstrantane kasta molotovcocktail mot politiet."

"Han laga ein molotovcocktail i garasjen."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

fotballfo-tball

Similar vowel structure and consonant clusters.

datamaskinda-ta-mas-kin

Demonstrates vowel-based syllable division in longer words.

radiostasjonra-di-o-sta-sjon

Shows consonant cluster maintenance within syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Division

Syllables are primarily divided around vowel sounds.

Consonant Cluster Maintenance

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Loanword Adaptation

Loanwords are adapted to Nynorsk phonological rules.

Special Considerations

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

Compound loanword with a complex structure.

Regional variations in pronunciation may slightly alter syllable boundaries.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'molotovcocktail' is syllabified based on Nynorsk vowel-based division rules, maintaining consonant clusters where possible. It's a compound loanword with stress on the penultimate syllable. The morphemic breakdown reveals its Russian and English origins.

Detailed Analysis:

Norwegian Nynorsk Word Analysis: "molotovcocktail"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "molotovcocktail" is a loanword, originally from Russian (Molotov cocktail). In Norwegian Nynorsk, it's pronounced with a relatively consistent phonetic structure, though some regional variations exist. The stress is generally on the penultimate syllable.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Nynorsk syllable division rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: mol- (Origin: Russian surname "Molotov", originally meaning "young"). Function: Naming origin.
  • Root: otov (Origin: Russian surname "Molotov"). Function: Core naming element.
  • Suffix: cocktail (Origin: English, ultimately from a mix of ingredients). Function: Denotes a mixed, often improvised, explosive device.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second-to-last syllable: mo-lo-tov-cock-tail.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/mɔˈlɔtɔvˈkɔktɛl/

6. Edge Case Review:

The word is a compound loanword, and its syllabification reflects this. The "ck" cluster in "cocktail" is treated as a single unit for syllabic purposes, common in Norwegian.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Molotovcocktail" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A Molotov cocktail is a makeshift incendiary weapon. It typically consists of a glass bottle filled with a flammable substance (e.g., gasoline) and a rag wick.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine gender in Nynorsk)
  • Translation: Molotov cocktail
  • Synonyms: Firebomb, petrol bomb
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples:
    • "Demonstrantane kasta molotovcocktail mot politiet." (The demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails at the police.)
    • "Han laga ein molotovcocktail i garasjen." (He made a Molotov cocktail in the garage.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "fotball" (football): fo-tball - Similar vowel structure, consonant clusters.
  • "datamaskin" (computer): da-ta-mas-kin - Demonstrates the tendency to break up longer words into syllables based on vowel sounds.
  • "radiostasjon" (radio station): ra-di-o-sta-sjon - Shows how consonant clusters can be maintained within a syllable.

The differences lie in the length and complexity of the word. "Molotovcocktail" is a compound loanword, resulting in a more complex syllabic structure than the native Norwegian examples.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
mo /mɔ/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-based division None
lo /lɔ/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-based division None
to /tɔ/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-based division None
v /v/ Closed syllable, vowel sound Consonant-vowel division None
cock /kɔk/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster Consonant cluster maintained "ck" treated as a single unit
tail /tɛl/ Open syllable, vowel sound Vowel-based division None

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Based Division: Syllables are primarily divided around vowel sounds.
  • Consonant Cluster Maintenance: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, unless they are easily separable.
  • Loanword Adaptation: Loanwords are adapted to Nynorsk phonological rules, but retain some of their original structure.

12. Special Considerations:

The word's origin as a compound loanword presents a unique case. The syllabification attempts to balance the original structure with Nynorsk phonological rules. Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the perceived syllable boundaries.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel sounds in unstressed syllables, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

The hottest word splits in Norwegian Nynorsk

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

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.