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Hyphenation ofagenouillements

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

a-ge-nouil-le-ments

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

/a.ʒə.nœj.mɑ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('nouil').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

a/a/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ge/ʒə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

nouil/nœj/

Closed syllable, primary stressed.

le/lə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ments/mɑ̃/

Closed syllable, unstressed, nasal vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

a(prefix)
+
genouil(root)
+
ments(suffix)

Prefix: a

From Latin 'ad-', meaning 'to' or 'towards'. Intensifier.

Root: genouil

From Old French 'genoil', ultimately from Latin 'geniculum' ('knee').

Suffix: ments

From Latin '-mentum'. Forms a noun denoting an action or state.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Bending of the knees; genuflections.

Translation: Kneelings, genuflections.

Examples:

"Les agenouillements du moine étaient sincères."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

changementcha-nge-ment

Shares the '-ment' suffix and similar syllable structure.

arrangementa-rran-ge-ment

Shares the '-ment' suffix and consonant clusters.

établissementé-ta-blis-se-ment

Shares the '-ment' suffix and consonant clusters, demonstrating consistent suffix syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllables

Syllables ending in a vowel are generally open.

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable.

Maximizing Onsets

Syllables prefer to have an onset if possible.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Consonants are not left isolated as syllable nuclei.

Special Considerations

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

The 'gn' cluster is treated as a single onset, despite being a consonant cluster.

The vowel 'œ' requires careful phonetic transcription.

Regional variations may affect vowel quality but not syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'agenouillements' is divided into five syllables: a-ge-nouil-le-ments. The primary stress falls on 'nouil'. It's a noun derived from Latin roots, with a prefix, root, and suffix. Syllabification follows standard French rules, maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, with the 'gn' cluster being a notable exception.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "agenouillements"

1. Pronunciation: The word "agenouillements" is pronounced /a.ʒə.nœj.mɑ̃/ in standard French.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, is: a-ge-nouil-le-ments.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • a-: Prefix. Latin origin (ad-), meaning "to" or "towards". Function: intensifier/directional.
  • genouil-: Root. From Old French genoil, ultimately from Latin geniculum ("knee"). Function: core meaning relating to bending.
  • -ments: Suffix. Latin origin (-mentum). Function: forms a noun denoting an action, result, or state.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: nouil.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /a.ʒə.nœj.mɑ̃/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllable structure generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. The "gn" cluster in "genouil" is a common exception, treated as a single onset.

7. Grammatical Role: "agenouillements" is exclusively a noun. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Bending of the knees; genuflections.
  • Translation: Kneelings, genuflections.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine, plural).
  • Synonyms: flexions, prosternations.
  • Antonyms: (Standing upright)
  • Examples: "Les agenouillements du moine étaient sincères." (The monk's kneelings were sincere.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • changement: cha-nge-ment. Similar syllable structure, with a consonant cluster at the beginning of the final syllable.
  • arrangement: a-rran-ge-ment. Similar suffix "-ment", and consonant clusters.
  • établissement: é-ta-blis-se-ment. Again, the "-ment" suffix and consonant clusters. The difference lies in the initial vowel and the complexity of the root.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Open Syllables: Syllables ending in a vowel are generally open (e.g., a-, ge-).
  • Rule 2: Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable as much as possible (e.g., -nouil-).
  • Rule 3: Maximizing Onsets: Syllables prefer to have an onset (initial consonant) if possible.
  • Rule 4: Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left isolated as syllable nuclei.

11. Special Considerations: The "gn" cluster is a notable exception to the general rule of avoiding consonant clusters. The vowel "œ" is also a relatively uncommon vowel sound in many languages, requiring careful phonetic transcription.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the standard pronunciation is /a.ʒə.nœj.mɑ̃/, some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel quality or the nasalization of the final syllable. These variations would not significantly affect the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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