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Hyphenation ofcontre-scelliez

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tre-scel-liez

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

/kɔ̃tʁə.sɛ.lje/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001

Primary stress falls on the final syllable '-liez'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

tre/tʁə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

scel/sɛl/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'sc' followed by vowel.

liez/lje/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster 'z'.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

contre-(prefix)
+
scel-(root)
+
-liez(suffix)

Prefix: contre-

Old French, from Latin 'contra' meaning 'against'. Indicates opposition.

Root: scel-

From Old French 'esceler', ultimately from Latin 'exsellere' meaning 'to seal up'. Core meaning of sealing.

Suffix: -liez

Imperfect subjunctive ending. Indicates mood, tense, and person/number.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To counter-seal; to seal against something.

Translation: To counter-seal

Examples:

"Ils contre-scelliez les documents pour plus de sécurité."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

contre-jourcon-tre-jour

Shares the 'contre-' prefix and similar syllable structure.

contre-attaquecon-tre-at-ta-que

Shares the 'contre-' prefix and demonstrates multiple syllables.

scelleriescel-le-rie

Shares the root 'scel-' and consistent syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Rule

Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. The 'n' in 'con' is part of the nasal vowel.

Vowel-Consonant Rule

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters can be part of a syllable, as seen in 'scel' and 'liez'.

Special Considerations

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

Liaison between 'contre' and 'scelliez' in spoken French does not affect the orthographic syllabification.

The imperfect subjunctive ending '-liez' consistently receives stress.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contre-scelliez' is divided into four syllables: con-tre-scel-liez. It consists of the prefix 'contre-', the root 'scel-', and the suffix '-liez'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows standard French rules based on vowel and consonant patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "contre-scelliez"

1. Pronunciation: The word "contre-scelliez" is pronounced approximately as /kɔ̃tʁə.sɛ.lje/. It's the imperfect subjunctive of the verb "contre-sceller" (to counter-seal).

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: con-tre-scel-liez.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: contre- (Old French, from Latin contra meaning "against"). Function: Indicates opposition or counteraction.
  • Root: scel- (from Old French esceler, ultimately from Latin exsellere meaning "to seal up"). Function: Core meaning of sealing.
  • Suffix: -liez (imperfect subjunctive ending). Function: Indicates mood, tense, and person/number.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable: -liez.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /kɔ̃tʁə.sɛ.lje/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • con-: /kɔ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. The 'n' is part of the nasal vowel sound. Exception: Nasal vowels can create syllable boundaries.
  • tre-: /tʁə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant.
  • scel-: /sɛl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. The 'sc' cluster is permissible at the beginning of a syllable.
  • liez-: /lje/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster 'z'.

7. Edge Case Review: The liaison between "contre" and "scelliez" is common in spoken French, creating a smoother flow. However, for syllabification, we maintain the orthographic separation.

8. Grammatical Role: "Contre-scelliez" is exclusively the imperfect subjunctive form of the verb "contre-sceller". The syllabification remains consistent regardless of the verb's conjugation.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To counter-seal; to seal against something.
  • Part of Speech: Verb (imperfect subjunctive)
  • Translation: To counter-seal
  • Synonyms: Refermer à nouveau (to reseal), obérer (to seal up)
  • Antonyms: Désceller (to unseal)
  • Examples: "Ils contre-scelliez les documents pour plus de sécurité." (They were counter-sealing the documents for more security.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Pronunciation of the 'r' sound can vary regionally (uvular vs. alveolar). This doesn't affect the syllabification.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • contre-jour: con-tre-jour - Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.
  • contre-attaque: con-tre-at-ta-que - Similar prefix, multiple syllables.
  • scellerie: scel-le-rie - Shares the root "scel-", demonstrating consistent syllabification.
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.