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Hyphenation ofsubalimentar-lhes-emos

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sub-a-li-men-ta-lhes-e-mos

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

/su.bɐ.li.mẽ.ˈtaɾ.ʎɛʃ.ˈe.muʃ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010101

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the verb stem ('ali-'). The syllable 'ta' and 'e' are also stressed, but to a lesser degree.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sub/sub/

Open syllable, consonant-vowel structure.

a/ɐ/

Open syllable, vowel alone.

li/li/

Open syllable, consonant-vowel structure.

men/mẽ/

Closed syllable, nasalized vowel.

ta/taɾ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'rt' permissible.

lhes/ʎɛʃ/

Clitic pronoun, treated as a separate syllable.

e/e/

Open syllable, vowel alone.

mos/muʃ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'sh' permissible.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sub-(prefix)
+
aliment-(root)
+
-ar(suffix)

Prefix: sub-

Latin origin, intensifier/degree modifier.

Root: aliment-

Latin origin (*alimentum*), meaning nourishment.

Suffix: -ar

Latin origin, infinitive verb ending.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To undernourish them.

Translation: We will undernourish them.

Examples:

"Subalimentar-lhes-emos se a crise persistir."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

alimentara-li-men-tar

Shares the same root and similar syllable structure.

substituirsub-sti-tu-ir

Shares the same prefix and similar syllable structure.

alimentaçãoa-li-men-ta-ção

Shares the same root and demonstrates suffixation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Rule

A syllable is open when it ends in a vowel.

Closed Syllable Rule

A syllable is closed when it ends in a consonant.

Clitic Pronoun Rule

Clitic pronouns are generally treated as separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

Nasal vowel pronunciation can vary regionally.

The 'r' in 'alimentar' can be elided in rapid speech, but doesn't affect syllabification.

The clitic pronoun '-lhes' requires special consideration due to its grammatical function.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'subalimentar-lhes-emos' is divided into eight syllables based on Portuguese syllabification rules, prioritizing open and closed syllable structures and treating the clitic pronoun '-lhes' as a separate unit. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the verb stem. The word is a conjugated verb meaning 'we will undernourish them'.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "subalimentar-lhes-emos" (Portuguese)

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "subalimentar-lhes-emos" is a conjugated verb form in Portuguese. It's a complex word formed by combining a verb root with several affixes. Pronunciation will follow standard Portuguese rules, with attention to nasal vowels and the reduction of unstressed vowels.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sub- (Latin) - meaning "under," "below," or "slightly." Function: Intensifier/Degree modifier.
  • Root: aliment- (Latin alimentum) - meaning "nourishment," "food." Function: Core meaning of the verb.
  • Suffix: -ar (Latin) - infinitive verb ending. Function: Indicates verb form.
  • Clitic Pronoun: -lhes (Portuguese) - Indirect object pronoun ("to them"). Function: Grammatical marker.
  • Suffix: -emos (Portuguese) - First-person plural future tense ending. Function: Tense/Mood/Person marker.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the verb stem, ali- in subalimentar.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/su.bɐ.li.mẽ.ˈtaɾ.ʎɛʃ.ˈe.muʃ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Explanation Potential Exceptions
sub /sub/ Open syllable. Consonant followed by vowel. None
a /ɐ/ Open syllable. Vowel alone. None
li /li/ Open syllable. Consonant followed by vowel. None
men /mẽ/ Nasalized vowel. Closed syllable. Nasalization can vary slightly regionally.
ta /taɾ/ Closed syllable. Consonant cluster (rt) is permissible. None
-lhes /ʎɛʃ/ Clitic pronoun. Syllable division follows vowel-consonant pattern. Pronunciation of 'lh' can vary slightly.
e /e/ Open syllable. Vowel alone. None
mos /muʃ/ Closed syllable. Consonant cluster (sh) is permissible. None

7. Edge Case Review:

The clitic pronoun "-lhes" is a common source of syllabification complexity. It's treated as a separate syllable due to its grammatical function and pronunciation. The 'r' in 'alimentar' is a tapped 'r' and can sometimes be elided in rapid speech, but this doesn't affect the syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is a conjugated verb form. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of the verb's function within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: subalimentar-lhes-emos
  • Translation: We will undernourish them.
  • Part of Speech: Verb (Future Tense, First Person Plural)
  • Synonyms: desnutrir-lhes-emos (to malnourish them), enfraquecer-lhes-emos (to weaken them)
  • Antonyms: nutrir-lhes-emos (to nourish them)
  • Examples: "Subalimentar-lhes-emos se a crise persistir." (We will undernourish them if the crisis persists.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of nasal vowels can vary slightly between regions (e.g., Brazil vs. Portugal). However, the syllabification remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • alimentar: a-li-men-tar (similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable)
  • substituir: sub-sti-tu-ir (similar prefix, similar syllable structure)
  • alimentação: a-li-men-ta-ção (similar root, demonstrates the addition of a suffix and its syllabification)

These words demonstrate the consistent application of Portuguese syllabification rules, particularly the open/closed syllable distinction and stress placement.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.