HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofcontre-indiquais

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tre-in-di-quais

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

/kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃.di.kɛ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable, '-quais', as is typical in French.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

tre/tʁ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster.

in/ɛ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

di/di/

Open syllable.

quais/kɛ/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

contre-(prefix)
+
indiqu-(root)
+
-ais(suffix)

Prefix: contre-

From Latin 'contra', meaning 'against'. Prefix indicating opposition.

Root: indiqu-

From Latin 'indicare', meaning 'to point out, show'. Verb root.

Suffix: -ais

1st person singular imperfect indicative verb ending. From Latin '-āre' + '-is'.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To contraindicate; to advise against.

Translation: To contraindicate

Examples:

"Le médecin contre-indiquait les voyages à l'étranger."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

indiquerin-di-quer

Shares the same root and similar syllable structure.

contre-attaquecontre-at-taque

Shares the same prefix and exhibits liaison.

indiquaisin-di-quais

Shares the same root and ending, differing only in the prefix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-based Division

Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex.

Liaison Rule

Liaison between words influences syllabification.

Special Considerations

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

The liaison between 'contre' and 'indiquais' is crucial.

Nasal vowels influence surrounding consonants.

French stress is generally on the final syllable.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contre-indiquais' is divided into five syllables: con-tre-in-di-quais. It's a conjugated verb form with a Latin-derived prefix, root, and suffix. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-based division and considers consonant clusters and liaison.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "contre-indiquais"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-indiquais" is a conjugated form of the verb "contre-indiquer" (to contraindicate). It's pronounced roughly as /kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃dikɛ/. The liaison between "contre" and "indiquais" is crucial.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: contre- (from Latin contra - against, opposing). Function: Prefix indicating opposition.
  • Root: indiqu- (from Latin indicare - to point out, show). Function: Verb root.
  • Suffix: -ais (from Latin -āre + -is). Function: 1st person singular imperfect indicative verb ending.

4. Stress Identification:

French generally has stress on the final syllable of a phrase or breath group. In this case, the stress falls on "-ais".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃.di.kɛ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "contre" and "indiquais" is a key consideration. The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in "contre" influences the following consonant. The elision of the 'e' in 'contre' is also important.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contre-indiquais" is the first-person singular imperfect indicative of the verb "contre-indiquer". Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the verb tense.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To contraindicate; to advise against.
  • Translation: To contraindicate
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (1st person singular imperfect indicative)
  • Synonyms: déconseiller, dissuader
  • Antonyms: recommander, conseiller
  • Examples: "Le médecin contre-indiquait les voyages à l'étranger." (The doctor contraindicated travel abroad.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • indiquer: /ɛ̃.di.ke/ - Syllable division: in-di-quer. Similar structure, but lacks the prefix.
  • contre-attaque: /kɔ̃tʁ‿a.tak/ - Syllable division: contre-at-taque. Similar prefix, different root. Liaison present.
  • indiquais: /ɛ̃.di.kɛ/ - Syllable division: in-di-quais. The root is the same, but the ending changes the syllable count.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
con /kɔ̃/ Nasal vowel, open syllable Vowel-based division Nasal vowel influences following consonant
tre /tʁ/ Consonant cluster, closed syllable Consonant cluster rule (avoid breaking unless complex) Liaison with following syllable
in /ɛ̃/ Nasal vowel, open syllable Vowel-based division Liaison with following syllable
di /di/ Open syllable Vowel-based division
quais /kɛ/ Closed syllable Consonant-based division Final syllable, receives stress

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-based Division: Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex or create pronounceability issues.
  3. Liaison Rule: When a word ends in a consonant and the next word begins with a vowel, a liaison (linking) occurs, influencing syllabification.

Special Considerations:

  • The liaison between "contre" and "indiquais" is crucial for pronunciation and syllabification.
  • The nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɛ̃/ influence the surrounding consonants.
  • French stress is generally on the final syllable.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is as described, some regional variations might exist in the realization of the /ʁ/ sound (uvular vs. alveolar trill). This doesn't significantly affect syllabification.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

The hottest word splits in French

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.