Hyphenation ofcontrafallabais
Syllable Division:
con-tra-fa-lla-ba-is
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/kontra.fa.ʝa.βa.is/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
001000
Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('lla'). Spanish words ending in vowels generally stress the antepenultimate syllable if not otherwise marked.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable.
Open syllable.
Open syllable, 'll' pronounced as /ʝ/.
Open syllable, 'b' pronounced as /β/ between vowels.
Closed syllable, final syllable.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: contra-
Latin origin, meaning 'against, opposite'. Prefix modifying the verb.
Root: fall-
Latin *fallere*, meaning 'to deceive, fail'. Core meaning of the verb.
Suffix: -abais
Spanish inflectional suffix indicating imperfect subjunctive, 2nd person plural (vosotros/as). Composed of -a-, -ba-, and -is.
To contradict, to fail to fulfill a promise or expectation, to deceive.
Translation: To contradict, to fail, to deceive.
Examples:
"Si contrafallabais vuestras promesas, nadie os creería."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the same root and prefix, differing only in the inflectional suffix.
Shares the same root and prefix, differing only in the inflectional suffix.
Shares the same root and prefix, differing only in the inflectional suffix.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Initial Syllable Division
Syllables are generally divided before vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
Consonant-Initial Syllable Division
Syllables are divided after consonants, unless the consonant is part of a consonant cluster that cannot be separated.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Regional variations in the pronunciation of 'll' (/ʝ/ vs. /ʎ/).
The pronunciation of 'b' as /β/ between vowels is standard.
The word is relatively uncommon, limiting documented exceptions.
Summary:
The word 'contrafallabais' is a complex Spanish verb form (imperfect subjunctive) meaning 'to contradict/fail/deceive'. It's syllabified as con-tra-fa-lla-ba-is, with stress on the antepenultimate syllable. The morphemic structure includes the prefix 'contra-', root 'fall-', and suffix '-abais'. Syllabification follows standard Spanish rules.
Detailed Analysis:
Analysis of "contrafallabais" (Spanish)
1. Examination & Pronunciation:
The word "contrafallabais" is a highly complex verb form in Spanish, specifically the imperfect subjunctive of the verb "contrafallar." It's a relatively uncommon word, and its pronunciation requires careful consideration of Spanish phonological rules.
2. Syllable Division:
Following Spanish syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: contra- (Latin origin, meaning "against," "opposite") - functions as a prefix modifying the verb.
- Root: fall- (Latin fallere meaning "to deceive, fail") - the core meaning of the verb.
- Suffix: -abais (Spanish inflectional suffix) - indicates the imperfect subjunctive mood, 2nd person plural (vosotros/as). This suffix is composed of multiple morphemes: -a- (thematic vowel), -ba- (imperfect subjunctive stem marker), and -is (2nd person plural ending).
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: con-tra-fa-lla-bais. This is determined by the general rule that words ending in vowels (including diphthongs) carry stress on the antepenultimate syllable if not otherwise marked by a written accent.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/kontra.fa.ʝa.βa.is/
6. Edge Case Review:
The sequence "ll" is a potential edge case. In many Spanish dialects, "ll" is pronounced as /ʝ/ (a palatal fricative), while in others, it's pronounced as /ʎ/ (a palatal lateral approximant). The transcription above uses /ʝ/, reflecting a common modern pronunciation. The "b" between vowels is pronounced as a /β/ (voiced bilabial fricative).
7. Grammatical Role:
"Contrafallabais" is exclusively a verb form. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its function within a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: To contradict, to fail to fulfill a promise or expectation, to deceive.
- Translation: (You all) were contradicting/failing/deceiving.
- Grammatical Category: Verb (Imperfect Subjunctive)
- Synonyms: desmentíais, defraudabais, engañabais
- Antonyms: confirmabais, cumplíais
- Example: Si contrafallabais vuestras promesas, nadie os creería. (If you were breaking your promises, no one would believe you.)
9. Phonological Comparison:
- contrafallaba: con-tra-fa-lla-ba (imperfect indicative) - Stress remains on the antepenultimate syllable. The final "-ba" changes the phonetic realization slightly.
- contrafallaré: con-tra-fa-lla-ré (future indicative) - Stress remains on the antepenultimate syllable. The addition of the future ending "-ré" alters the final syllable.
- contrafallaron: con-tra-fa-lla-ron (preterite indicative) - Stress remains on the antepenultimate syllable. The addition of the preterite ending "-ron" alters the final syllable.
The consistent stress pattern across these related forms demonstrates the robustness of Spanish stress rules. The primary difference lies in the final syllable's phonetic realization due to the different inflectional endings.
10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| con | /kon/ | Open syllable | Rule: Syllable division before a vowel. | None |
| tra | /tra/ | Open syllable | Rule: Syllable division before a vowel. | None |
| fa | /fa/ | Open syllable | Rule: Syllable division before a vowel. | None |
| lla | /ʝa/ | Open syllable | Rule: Syllable division before a vowel. | "ll" pronunciation varies regionally. |
| ba | /βa/ | Open syllable | Rule: Syllable division before a vowel. | "b" becomes /β/ between vowels. |
| is | /is/ | Closed syllable | Rule: Syllable division after a consonant. | None |
11. Division Rules Applied:
- Rule 1: Vowel-Initial Syllable Division: Syllables are generally divided before vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
- Rule 2: Consonant-Initial Syllable Division: Syllables are divided after consonants, unless the consonant is part of a consonant cluster that cannot be separated.
12. Special Considerations:
The pronunciation of "ll" is a regional variation. The word is relatively uncommon, so there are fewer documented exceptions. The /β/ pronunciation of "b" between vowels is standard.
13. Short Analysis:
"Contrafallabais" is the imperfect subjunctive of "contrafallar," meaning "to contradict/fail/deceive." It's divided into six syllables: con-tra-fa-lla-ba-is, with stress on the antepenultimate syllable. The morphemic breakdown reveals a prefix (contra-), root (fall-), and suffix (-abais). The phonetic transcription is /kontra.fa.ʝa.βa.is/. Syllabification follows standard Spanish rules of dividing before vowels and after consonants.
The hottest word splits in Spanish
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.