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Hyphenation ofcontre-indiquait

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tre-in-di-quait

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

/kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃di.kɛ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable '-quait', as is typical in French. The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel. Unstressed.

tre/tʁ/

Open syllable, consonant sound. Unstressed.

in/ɛ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel. Unstressed.

di/di/

Open syllable, vowel sound. Unstressed.

quait/kɛ/

Closed syllable, stressed. Contains the 'qu' digraph.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

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

Prefix: contre-

From Latin 'contra', meaning 'against'. Prefixes are typically separated for analysis.

Root: indiqu-

From Latin 'indicare', meaning 'to point out'. The core meaning of the verb.

Suffix: -ait

Imperfect tense, third-person singular ending. Indicates past habitual action.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To counterindicate; to suggest that something is not advisable or appropriate.

Translation: To counterindicate

Examples:

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

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

contre-indiquercon-tre-in-di-quer

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

indiquaitin-di-quait

Shares the root and ending, lacking the prefix.

contreditcon-tré-dit

Shares the 'contre-' prefix, but has a different root and ending.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

French syllables generally end in a vowel sound. Each vowel sound forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Maintenance

Consonant clusters are maintained unless they are complex and disrupt pronunciation. 'qu' is treated as a single consonant sound.

Special Considerations

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

Liaison between 'contre' and 'indiquait' can affect pronunciation, but does not alter the syllabification.

The 'qu' digraph is treated as a single consonant sound for syllabification purposes.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contre-indiquait' is divided into five syllables: con-tre-in-di-quait. It consists of the prefix 'contre-', the root 'indiqu-', and the suffix '-ait'. Stress falls on the final syllable '-quait'. Syllabification follows vowel-based rules and maintains consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "contre-indiquait"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-indiquait" is a verb in the imperfect tense, third-person singular. It's a compound word formed with a prefix and a verb stem. Pronunciation involves liaison possibilities, particularly between "contre" and "indiquait".

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division will be as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: contre- (Latin contra - against, opposite). Function: Prefix indicating opposition or counteraction.
  • Root: indiqu- (Latin indicare - to point out, to show). Function: Verb stem.
  • Suffix: -ait (from Latin -abat). Function: Imperfect tense, third-person singular ending.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃di.kɛ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "contre" and "indiquait" is a key consideration. The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in "contre" can influence the pronunciation of the following vowel.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contre-indiquait" is exclusively a verb form. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To counter-indicate; to suggest that something is not advisable or appropriate.
  • Translation: To counterindicate
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (Imperfect tense, third-person singular)
  • Synonyms: déconseiller, dissuader
  • Antonyms: conseiller, recommander
  • Examples: "Le médecin contre-indiquait les voyages à l'étranger." (The doctor counterindicated travelling abroad.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "contre-indiquer" (to counterindicate): con-tre-in-di-quer. Syllable division is similar, but the final "-ait" is absent.
  • "indiquait" (indicated): in-di-quait. The prefix is absent, simplifying the syllable structure.
  • "contredit" (contradicts): con-tré-dit. Similar prefix, but different vowel sounds and a different verb ending.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

  • con-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: French syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
  • tre-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: Same as above.
  • in-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: Same as above.
  • di-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: Same as above.
  • quait: Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained unless they are complex and disrupt pronunciation. The 'qu' is treated as a single consonant sound.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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