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Hyphenation ofcompadecer-lhes-íamos

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

com-pa-de-cer-lhes-i-á-mos

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

/kõ.pɐ.ðeˈseɾ.lɛʃ.iˈa.muʃ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010110

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the root 'cer'. The 'á' syllable also receives stress due to the accent mark, but it's secondary to the root stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

com/kõ/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

pa/pɐ/

Open syllable.

de/dɛ/

Open syllable.

cer/seɾ/

Closed syllable, primary stressed syllable.

lhes/lɛʃ/

Closed syllable, clitic pronoun.

i/i/

Open syllable.

á/a/

Open syllable, stressed syllable.

mos/muʃ/

Closed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

com-(prefix)
+
padecer(root)
+
-lhes-íamos(suffix)

Prefix: com-

Latin *con-*, indicates shared action/feeling.

Root: padecer

Latin *patere*, to suffer, to feel.

Suffix: -lhes-íamos

Clitic pronoun *lhes* (to them) + Conditional Perfect ending *íamos*.

Meanings & Definitions
Verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To feel sorry for them; to sympathize with them.

Translation: We would have felt sorry for them.

Examples:

"Se soubéssemos o que eles estavam passando, compadecer-lhes-íamos."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

cantaríamoscan-ta-rí-a-mos

Similar verb conjugation pattern and stress placement.

viajaríamosvi-a-ja-rí-a-mos

Similar verb conjugation pattern and stress placement.

escreveríamoses-cre-ve-rí-a-mos

Similar verb conjugation pattern and stress placement.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-centric Syllabification

Syllables are formed around vowels (or diphthongs).

Penultimate Stress

Words ending in vowels, 's', or 'm' generally have stress on the penultimate syllable.

Clitic Pronoun Treatment

Clitic pronouns are generally treated as separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The clitic pronoun *lhes* can be subject to elision in rapid speech.

The nasal vowel /õ/ in *com* requires careful pronunciation.

The conditional perfect ending *-íamos* adds complexity to the syllable count.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'compadecer-lhes-íamos' is a conditional perfect verb form meaning 'we would have felt sorry for them'. It's syllabified as com-pa-de-cer-lhes-i-á-mos, with primary stress on 'cer'. The word's structure includes a prefix, root, and suffixes, and the clitic pronoun 'lhes' is treated as a separate syllable.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "compadecer-lhes-íamos" (Portuguese)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "compadecer-lhes-íamos" is a complex verb form in Portuguese, specifically the conditional perfect of the verb "compadecer." It translates roughly to "we would have felt sorry for/sympathized with them." Pronunciation involves careful attention to vowel quality, nasalization, and the linking of syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Portuguese syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters):

com-pa-de-cer-lhes-i-á-mos

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: com- (Latin con-) - Function: Indicates a shared action or feeling.
  • Root: padecer (Latin patere) - Function: To suffer, to feel. The 'com-' prefix modifies this to 'compadecer' - to feel with someone, to sympathize.
  • Suffixes:
    • -lhes (Pronoun clitic) - Function: Indirect object pronoun ("to them").
    • -íamos (Conditional Perfect ending) - Function: Indicates conditional mood and past action. Derived from the imperfect subjunctive of haver + past participle.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the root: cer. This is typical for Portuguese words ending in vowels or 's'.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kõ.pɐ.ðeˈseɾ.lɛʃ.iˈa.muʃ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The clitic pronoun lhes presents a slight edge case. While generally treated as a separate syllable, its close connection to the verb can sometimes lead to elision or reduced pronunciation in rapid speech. However, for formal syllabification, it remains a distinct syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is exclusively a verb form. Syllabification does not shift based on grammatical role, as it's already a conjugated verb.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: compadecer-lhes-íamos
  • Part of Speech: Verb (Conditional Perfect)
  • Definitions:
    • "We would have felt sorry for them."
    • "We would have sympathized with them."
  • Translation: English: "We would have felt sorry for them."
  • Synonyms: consolá-los-íamos, ter pena deles (would have had pity on them)
  • Antonyms: ignorar-lhes-íamos (would have ignored them)
  • Examples:
    • "Se soubéssemos o que eles estavam passando, compadecer-lhes-íamos." (If we knew what they were going through, we would have felt sorry for them.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • cantaríamos: can-ta-rí-a-mos - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable of the root.
  • viajaríamos: vi-a-ja-rí-a-mos - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable of the root.
  • escreveríamos: es-cre-ve-rí-a-mos - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable of the root.

The key difference lies in the initial consonant clusters and the presence of the clitic pronoun lhes in "compadecer-lhes-íamos." The other words have simpler initial structures.

10. Syllable Analysis with Rules & Exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
com /kõ/ Open syllable Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel. Nasal vowel requires consideration of vowel quality.
pa /pɐ/ Open syllable Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel.
de /dɛ/ Open syllable Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel.
cer /seɾ/ Closed syllable, stressed Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable.
lhes /lɛʃ/ Closed syllable Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel. Clitic pronoun, potential for elision in rapid speech.
i /i/ Open syllable Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel.
á /a/ Open syllable, stressed Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable.
mos /muʃ/ Closed syllable Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel.

11. Division Rules:

  • Vowel-centric Syllabification: Portuguese syllables are primarily built around vowels. Each vowel (or diphthong) typically forms the nucleus of a syllable.
  • Penultimate Stress: Words ending in vowels, 's', or 'm' generally have stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Clitic Pronoun Treatment: Clitic pronouns like lhes are generally treated as separate syllables, even when closely linked to the verb.

12. Special Considerations:

The presence of the clitic pronoun lhes and the conditional ending -íamos contribute to the word's complexity. The nasal vowel /õ/ in com requires careful pronunciation.

13. Short Analysis:

"compadecer-lhes-íamos" is a conditional perfect verb form meaning "we would have felt sorry for them." It's syllabified as com-pa-de-cer-lhes-i-á-mos, with stress on the penultimate syllable of the root (cer). The word consists of a Latin-derived prefix (com-), root (padecer), and suffixes (-lhes, -íamos). The clitic pronoun lhes is treated as a separate syllable.

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

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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.