HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofkilkunastocentymetrowym

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

kil-ku-na-sto-tse-nty-me-tro-wym

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

/kʲil.ku.na.stɔ.t͡sɛn.tɨ.ˈmɛ.trɔ.vɨm/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000000100

Stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('me'), as is typical in Polish. The stress is primary (1).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

kil/kʲil/

Open syllable, initial palatalized consonant.

ku/ku/

Open syllable.

na/na/

Open syllable, connecting vowel.

sto/stɔ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

tse/t͡sɛ/

Closed syllable, affricate onset.

nty/n.tɨ/

Closed syllable, nasal consonant onset.

me/ˈmɛ/

Open, stressed syllable.

tro/trɔ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

wym/vɨm/

Closed syllable, nasal consonant onset.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

kilku-(prefix)
+
sto-centy-metr-(root)
+
-owy-m(suffix)

Prefix: kilku-

Proto-Slavic origin, meaning 'several'.

Root: sto-centy-metr-

Combination of Proto-Slavic 'sto' (hundred), French 'centi-' (from Latin 'centum'), and Greek 'metron' (measure).

Suffix: -owy-m

Adjectival suffix and instrumental case marker.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Several-centimeter-long, of several centimeters in length.

Translation: Several-centimeter-long

Examples:

"Użył kawałka drutu kilkunastocentymetrowym."

"Narysował linię kilkunastocentymetrowym ołówkiem."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

piętnastocentymetrowypię-tna-sto-cen-ty-me-tro-wy

Similar adjectival structure with the same root 'centy-metr-owy'.

dwudziestocentymetrowydwu-dzie-sto-cen-ty-me-tro-wy

Similar adjectival structure with the same root 'centy-metr-owy'.

centymetrowycen-ty-me-tro-wy

Shares the core root 'centy-metr-owy', demonstrating consistent syllabification of that component.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Polish prefers to create syllables with consonant onsets whenever possible, avoiding stranded consonants. This is evident in the 'str' and 'tr' clusters.

Penultimate Stress

Polish generally places stress on the penultimate syllable, influencing the perception of syllable boundaries.

Vowel-Based Division

Syllables are often divided around vowels, creating open syllables where possible.

Special Considerations

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

The consonant clusters 'str' and 'tr' are treated as single onsets, rather than being broken up.

The connecting vowel '-na-' is a common feature in Polish compounding and doesn't necessarily dictate a strong syllable boundary.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'kilkunastocentymetrowym' is a complex Polish adjective syllabified based on maximizing onsets, vowel-based division, and the language's penultimate stress pattern. It's formed from multiple morphemes with origins in Proto-Slavic, Latin, and Greek. The syllable division is kil-ku-na-sto-tse-nty-me-tro-wym, with stress on the penultimate syllable 'me'.

Detailed Analysis:

Polish Word Analysis: kilkunastocentymetrowym

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "kilkunastocentymetrowym" is a highly inflected Polish adjective meaning "several-centimeter-long" (specifically, in the instrumental case, masculine singular). It's a complex word formed through compounding and inflection. Pronunciation involves a series of consonant clusters, typical of Polish, and requires careful attention to vowel quality and palatalization.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Polish syllabification rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, the division is as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • kilku-: Prefix, meaning "several" (from Proto-Slavic kilь, meaning "a few").
  • -na-: Connecting vowel, often used in compounding.
  • -sto-: Root, meaning "hundred" (from Proto-Slavic sъto). Here, it contributes to the sense of "several" in an indefinite way.
  • -centy-: Root, meaning "centi-" (from French centi- and ultimately Latin centum, meaning "hundred").
  • -metr-: Root, meaning "meter" (from French mètre and ultimately Greek metron, meaning "measure").
  • -owy: Suffix, adjectival forming suffix (from Proto-Slavic jьvъ, indicating quality or belonging).
  • -m: Suffix, instrumental case marker, masculine singular (inflectional).

4. Stress Identification:

Polish stress is generally fixed on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable. In this case, the stress falls on "-me-".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kʲil.ku.na.stɔ.t͡sɛn.tɨ.ˈmɛ.trɔ.vɨm/

6. Edge Case Review:

Polish syllabification can be tricky with consonant clusters. The rule of maximizing onsets is crucial here. The cluster "str" is treated as a single onset.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is an adjective. If it were used as a noun (which is less common but possible in certain contexts), the stress would remain on the penultimate syllable.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Several-centimeter-long, of several centimeters in length.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective (masculine singular, instrumental case)
  • Translation: Several-centimeter-long
  • Synonyms: (depending on context) wielkości kilku centymetrów (of several centimeters in size)
  • Antonyms: mikroskopijny (microscopic), niewielki (small)
  • Examples:
    • "Użył kawałka drutu kilkunastocentymetrowym." (He used a piece of wire several centimeters long.)
    • "Narysował linię kilkunastocentymetrowym ołówkiem." (He drew a line with a several-centimeter-long pencil.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • piętnastocentymetrowy (fifteen-centimeter-long): pię-tna-sto-cen-ty-me-tro-wy. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • dwudziestocentymetrowy (twenty-centimeter-long): dwu-dzie-sto-cen-ty-me-tro-wy. Again, similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • centymetrowy (centimeter-long): cen-ty-me-tro-wy. Shorter, but the same root structure and stress pattern.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying prefixes and the length of the initial consonant clusters. The core structure of "-cen-ty-me-tro-wy" remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/13/2025

The hottest word splits in Polish

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

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.