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Hyphenation ofcontre-indiquer

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tre-in-di-quer

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

/kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃di.ke/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable '-quer', which is typical for French verbs in the infinitive form.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel. Contains the prefix 'contre'.

tre/tʁ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'tr'. Part of the prefix 'contre'.

in/ɛ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel. Beginning of the root 'indiquer'.

di/di/

Open syllable, vowel 'i'. Part of the root 'indiquer'.

quer/ke/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable. End of the root 'indiquer'.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

contre-(prefix)
+
indiquer(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: contre-

From Latin 'contra', meaning 'against'. Functions as an opposition marker.

Root: indiquer

From Latin 'indicare', meaning 'to point out, to show'. Core meaning of the verb.

Suffix:

The word is in its infinitive form, so there is no suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To discourage, to advise against, to contraindicate.

Translation: To discourage, to contraindicate

Examples:

"Les médecins ont contre-indiqué ce médicament."

"Il a contre-indiqué de voyager pendant la pandémie."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comparercom-pa-rer

Shares a similar initial nasal vowel and verb ending.

considérercon-si-dé-rer

Similar prefix structure and final '-er' verb ending.

indiquerin-di-quer

Shares the root 'indiquer' and demonstrates typical vowel-based syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are maintained as long as they are pronounceable as a unit.

Liaison

Liaison creates a bridge between words, influencing pronunciation and potentially syllabification in connected speech.

Special Considerations

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

The nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɛ̃/ require careful consideration.

The liaison between 'contre' and 'indiquer' is a standard feature of French pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contre-indiquer' is divided into five syllables: con-tre-in-di-quer. It consists of the prefix 'contre-', the root 'indiquer', and is a verb meaning 'to discourage'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-based rules and considers the liaison between the prefix and root.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "contre-indiquer"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-indiquer" is a verb meaning "to discourage" or "to contraindicate" in French. Its pronunciation involves a blend of consonant clusters and vowel sounds typical of the language. The liaison between "contre" and "indiquer" is common.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are pronounceable as separate syllables, the division is as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: contre- (Latin contra - "against"). Function: Opposition, negation.
  • Root: indiquer (Latin indicare - "to point out, to show"). Function: Core meaning of indicating or suggesting.
  • Suffix: None. The word is a verb in its infinitive form.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-quer".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃di.ke/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "contre" and "indiquer" is a key consideration. The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in "contre" and the vowel /ɛ̃/ in "indiquer" influence the syllabification and pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contre-indiquer" is primarily a verb. Its syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To discourage, to advise against, to contraindicate.
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (infinitive)
  • Translation: To discourage, to contraindicate
  • Synonyms: dissuader, déconseiller
  • Antonyms: encourager, conseiller
  • Examples:
    • "Les médecins ont contre-indiqué ce médicament." (The doctors contraindicated this medication.)
    • "Il a contre-indiqué de voyager pendant la pandémie." (He discouraged traveling during the pandemic.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • comparer: /kɔ̃.pa.ʁe/ - Syllable division: com-pa-rer. Similar nasal vowel at the beginning.
  • considérer: /kɔ̃.si.de.ʁe/ - Syllable division: con-si-dé-rer. Similar prefix structure and final "-er" verb ending.
  • indiquer: /ɛ̃.di.ke/ - Syllable division: in-di-quer. Shares the root "indiquer" and demonstrates the typical vowel-based syllabification.

The differences in syllable count are due to the addition of the "contre-" prefix in "contre-indiquer". The core syllabification rules for the root "indiquer" remain consistent.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Vowel-Based Syllabification: Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are maintained as long as they are pronounceable as a unit.
  • Rule 3: Liaison: Liaison creates a bridge between words, influencing pronunciation and potentially syllabification in connected speech.

11. Special Considerations:

The nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɛ̃/ require careful consideration as they influence the surrounding consonant sounds. The liaison between "contre" and "indiquer" is a standard feature of French pronunciation and must be accounted for.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /kɔ̃tʁ‿ɛ̃di.ke/, some regional variations might exist in the articulation of the /ʁ/ sound (uvular vs. alveolar trill). However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllabification.

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

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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.