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Hyphenation ofrobes-de-chambre

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ro-bes-de-cham-bre

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

/ˈroʊbz də ʃɑ̃bər/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10000

Primary stress falls on the first syllable ('ro'). The remaining syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ro/roʊ/

Open syllable, stressed.

bes/bz/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

de/də/

Open syllable, unstressed.

cham/ʃɑm/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

bre/bər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

robes(prefix)
+
chambre(root)
+
de(suffix)

Prefix: robes

French origin, meaning 'gown' or 'clothes'.

Root: chambre

French origin, meaning 'chamber' or 'room'.

Suffix: de

French preposition meaning 'of', connecting the two parts of the compound.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A long, loose dressing gown.

Examples:

"She put on her robes-de-chambre and settled in with a book."

"The hotel provided comfortable robes-de-chambre for its guests."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

bedroombed-room

Compound noun structure, stress on the first syllable.

nightgownnight-gown

Compound noun structure, stress on the first syllable.

overcoato-ver-coat

Compound noun structure, stress on the first syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV)

Syllables are often divided between vowels, as seen in 'ro-bes'.

Compound Word Division

Compound words are divided between their constituent parts, such as 'robes-de-cham-bre'.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are unpronounceable, as in 'cham-bre'.

Special Considerations

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

French origin and the potential for varying pronunciations of the nasal vowel /ɑ̃/.

Reduction of 'de' to /də/ in casual speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'robes-de-chambre' is a French loanword functioning as a noun. It is divided into five syllables: ro-bes-de-cham-bre, with primary stress on the first syllable ('ro'). The syllabification follows standard English rules for compound words and vowel-consonant-vowel patterns, though its French origin introduces pronunciation nuances.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "robes-de-chambre"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "robes-de-chambre" is a loanword from French, commonly used in English to describe a dressing gown. Its pronunciation in US English is typically /ˈroʊbz də ʃɑ̃bər/. The French nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ is often approximated in English.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as: ro-bes-de-cham-bre.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • robes: Prefix (French origin) - derived from the Old French robe, meaning "gown" or "clothes". Functions as part of the compound noun.
  • de: Preposition (French origin) - meaning "of". Connects the two parts of the compound.
  • chambre: Root (French origin) - meaning "chamber" or "room". Forms the core of the compound noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable: ro-bes-de-cham-bre.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈroʊbz də ʃɑ̃bər/

6. Edge Case Review:

The word's French origin introduces complexities. The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ is not native to English and can be pronounced differently by speakers. The "de" is often reduced to /də/ in casual speech.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Robes-de-chambre" functions exclusively as a noun. Its syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A long, loose dressing gown.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Dressing gown, housecoat, bathrobe
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it's a specific garment)
  • Examples:
    • "She put on her robes-de-chambre and settled in with a book."
    • "The hotel provided comfortable robes-de-chambre for its guests."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • bedroom: bed-room - Similar structure with a compound noun. Stress on the first syllable.
  • nightgown: night-gown - Another compound noun with stress on the first syllable.
  • overcoat: o-ver-coat - Compound noun, stress on the first syllable.

The syllable division in "robes-de-chambre" follows the same pattern as these words: stress on the first element of the compound noun. The presence of the French preposition "de" doesn't alter the basic syllabification rules.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV): Syllables are often divided between vowels. (robes -> ro-bes)
  • Rule 2: Compound Word Division: Compound words are divided between their constituent parts. (robes-de-chambre -> ro-bes-de-cham-bre)
  • Rule 3: Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are unpronounceable. (cham-bre)

11. Special Considerations:

The French origin and the potential for varying pronunciations of the nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ are the primary special considerations. Some speakers might pronounce it closer to /ɑ/, which could slightly affect the perceived syllable boundaries.

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

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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.