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Hyphenation ofincapacitar-lhes-íamos

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-ca-pa-ci-tar-lhes-i-a-mos

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

/ĩ.kɐ.pɐ.si.ˈtaɾ.lɛʃ.i.ɐ̃.muʃ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000001

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the root ('pa').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in-/ĩ/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

ca-/kɐ/

Open syllable.

pa-/ˈpɐ/

Stressed, open syllable.

ci-/si/

Open syllable.

tar-/tɐɾ/

Open syllable.

lhes/lɛʃ/

Closed syllable, clitic pronoun.

i-/i/

Open syllable.

a-/ɐ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

mos/muʃ/

Closed syllable, palatalization of /l/.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

in-(prefix)
+
capacitar(root)
+
-lhes-íamos(suffix)

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negative prefix.

Root: capacitar

Latin origin (capacitas), meaning 'to enable'.

Suffix: -lhes-íamos

Clitic pronoun (3rd person plural indirect object) + conditional ending (1st person plural).

Meanings & Definitions
Verb(grammatical role in sentences)

We would incapacitate them.

Translation: We would make them unable.

Examples:

"Se tivéssemos mais recursos, incapacitar-lhes-íamos a ação."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

habilitar-lhes-íamosha-bi-li-tar-lhes-i-a-mos

Similar verb structure with the same clitic pronoun and conditional ending.

incapacidadein-ca-pa-ci-da-de

Shares the root 'capac-' and prefix 'in-', demonstrating consistent syllabification.

desabilitar-lhes-íamosde-sa-bi-li-tar-lhes-i-a-mos

Similar verb structure with the same clitic pronoun and conditional ending.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Consonant-Vowel (CV)

Syllables are generally formed around a consonant-vowel pairing.

Vowel-Vowel (VV)

When two vowels appear consecutively, they are usually separated into different syllables, unless they form a diphthong or triphthong.

Liquid Consonant Rule

Liquid consonants (l, r) can sometimes begin a syllable, especially when followed by a vowel.

Stress Placement

Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in vowels.

Special Considerations

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

The clitic pronoun 'lhes' is treated as a separate syllable.

Nasalization of vowels.

Palatalization of /l/ before /i/.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'incapacitar-lhes-íamos' is a complex verb form syllabified according to Portuguese CV and VV rules, with stress on the penultimate syllable of the root. It consists of a Latin-derived prefix, root, and suffixes, including a clitic pronoun and conditional ending. Syllabification is consistent with similar verb forms and related words.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "incapacitar-lhes-íamos" is a complex verb form in Portuguese, specifically the conditional perfect of the verb "incapacitar" (to incapacitate). Its pronunciation involves a series of vowel and consonant sounds typical of the language, with attention to nasal vowels and the palatalization of /l/ before /i/.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin, negative prefix, meaning "not")
  • Root: capacitar (Latin capacitas - capacity, ability; meaning "to enable, to make capable")
  • Suffixes:
    • -lhes- (Pronoun clitic, indirect object pronoun, 3rd person plural - "to them")
    • -íamos (Conditional ending, 1st person plural - "we would")

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the root, "pa". This is due to the general rule that words ending in vowels are stressed on the penultimate syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ĩ.kɐ.pɐ.si.ˈtaɾ.lɛʃ.i.ɐ̃.muʃ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Explanation Special Cases
in- /ĩ/ Syllable begins with a consonant, followed by a vowel.
ca- /kɐ/ Syllable begins with a consonant, followed by a vowel.
pa- /ˈpɐ/ Syllable begins with a consonant, followed by a vowel. Primary stress.
ci- /si/ Syllable begins with a consonant, followed by a vowel.
tar- /tɐɾ/ Syllable begins with a consonant, followed by a vowel.
lhes /lɛʃ/ Syllable begins with a liquid consonant, followed by a vowel. Nasalization of vowel due to following nasal consonant.
i- /i/ Syllable consists of a single vowel.
a- /ɐ̃/ Syllable begins with a vowel. Nasal vowel.
mos /muʃ/ Syllable begins with a consonant, followed by a vowel. Palatalization of /l/ to /ʃ/ due to following vowel.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Rule 1: Consonant-Vowel (CV): Syllables are generally formed around a consonant-vowel pairing.
  • Rule 2: Vowel-Vowel (VV): When two vowels appear consecutively, they are usually separated into different syllables, unless they form a diphthong or triphthong.
  • Rule 3: Liquid Consonant (L/R) Rule: Liquid consonants (l, r) can sometimes begin a syllable, especially when followed by a vowel.
  • Rule 4: Stress Placement: Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in vowels.

7. Exceptions & Special Cases:

  • The clitic pronoun "lhes" is treated as a separate syllable despite being enclitic to the verb.
  • The nasalization of the vowel in "a-" is a common feature of Portuguese phonology.
  • The palatalization of /l/ to /ʃ/ in "íamos" is a common occurrence before the vowel /i/.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

The word is primarily a verb form. If "incapacitar" were used as a noun (though rare), the stress and syllabification would remain largely the same.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: incapacitar-lhes-íamos
  • Part of Speech: Verb (Conditional Perfect)
  • Definitions:
    • "We would incapacitate them."
    • Translation: "We would make them unable."
  • Synonyms: desabilitar-lhes-íamos, inabilitar-lhes-íamos
  • Antonyms: capacitar-lhes-íamos, habilitar-lhes-íamos
  • Examples:
    • "Se tivéssemos mais recursos, incapacitar-lhes-íamos a ação." (If we had more resources, we would incapacitate their action.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of nasal vowels and the degree of palatalization can vary slightly between regions (e.g., Brazil vs. Portugal). However, the core syllabification rules remain consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

Word Syllables Reason
habilitar-lhes-íamos ha-bi-li-tar-lhes-i-a-mos Similar verb structure with the same clitic pronoun and conditional ending.
incapacidade in-ca-pa-ci-da-de Shares the root "capac-" and prefix "in-", demonstrating consistent syllabification of these morphemes.
desabilitar-lhes-íamos de-sa-bi-li-tar-lhes-i-a-mos Similar verb structure with the same clitic pronoun and conditional ending.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.