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Hyphenation ofcontre-placages

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tre-pla-ca-ges

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

/kɔ̃tʁ.pla.kaʒ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable '-ges', which is typical for French nouns. The stress is primary (1).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, containing a nasal vowel. Initial syllable.

tre/tʁə/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Contains a schwa.

pla/pla/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

ca/ka/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ges/ʒə/

Open syllable, final syllable, receives primary stress. Contains a schwa.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

contre-(prefix)
+
plac-(root)
+
-ages(suffix)

Prefix: contre-

From Latin 'contra', meaning 'against'. Prepositional prefix.

Root: plac-

From Latin 'placare', meaning 'to appease, to cover'. Root denoting covering or layering.

Suffix: -ages

From Latin '-aticum'. Nominalizing suffix forming a noun denoting a collection or result.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Thin sheets of wood glued together, used as a decorative facing for furniture or as a structural material.

Translation: Veneers, plywood

Examples:

"Les meubles sont recouverts de contre-placages de noyer."

"Le plancher était fait de contre-placages marins."

Antonyms: massif
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

contre-plaquescon-tre-plak

Shares the 'contre-' prefix and 'plac-' root, differing in the suffix.

contre-partieskɔ̃tʁ.paʁ.ti

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

placarderpla.kaʁ.de

Contains the 'plac-' root, but has a different prefix and suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

Syllables are primarily formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound typically constitutes a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Onsets

Consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable (onsets) are generally maintained as a single unit unless they can be easily separated phonetically.

Special Considerations

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

The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in 'con-' influences the syllabification.

The 'pl' cluster is treated as a single onset.

Liaison is possible between 'contre' and the following vowel if the next word begins with a vowel sound.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contre-placages' is divided into five syllables: con-tre-pla-ca-ges. It's a compound noun with a Latin-derived prefix, root, and suffix. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-based rules and treats consonant clusters as single onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "contre-placages" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-placages" is a French noun meaning "veneers" or "plywood". It's a compound word formed by combining a prefix, a root, and a suffix. Pronunciation involves nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

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, opposite). Function: prepositional prefix indicating opposition or counteraction.
  • Root: plac- (Latin placare - to appease, to cover, to veneer). Function: base denoting covering or layering.
  • Suffix: -ages (French suffix derived from Latin -aticum). Function: nominalizing suffix, forming a noun denoting a collection or result of an action.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁ.pla.kaʒ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "contre" prefix can sometimes elide to "cont'" before a vowel, but this doesn't affect the syllabification of the full word. The "pl" consonant cluster is treated as a single onset.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contre-placages" is primarily a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Thin sheets of wood glued together, used as a decorative facing for furniture or as a structural material.
  • Translation: Veneers, plywood
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine plural)
  • Synonyms: placages, stratifiés (depending on the type)
  • Antonyms: massif (solid wood)
  • Examples:
    • "Les meubles sont recouverts de contre-placages de noyer." (The furniture is covered with walnut veneers.)
    • "Le plancher était fait de contre-placages marins." (The floor was made of marine plywood.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "contre-plaques" (plywood sheets): con-tʁə-plak. Syllable division is similar, but the final "-ques" changes the vowel sound and stress.
  • "contre-parties" (counterparts): kɔ̃tʁ.paʁ.ti. The prefix remains the same, but the root and suffix differ, leading to a different syllable structure.
  • "placarder" (to put away in a closet): pla.kaʁ.de. The root "plac-" is present, but the prefix and suffix are different, resulting in a different syllabification.

10. Syllable Analysis & Rules:

  • con-: /kɔ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
  • tre-: /tʁə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) forms a syllable.
  • pla-: /pla/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) forms a syllable.
  • ca-: /ka/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) forms a syllable.
  • ges-: /ʒə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) forms a syllable.

11. Special Considerations:

The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in "con-" influences the syllabification. The "pl" cluster is treated as a single onset. Liaison is possible between "contre" and the following vowel if the next word begins with a vowel sound.

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

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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.