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Hyphenation ofdémouscaillâtes

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

dé-mous-cai-llâ-tes

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

/de.mu.skaj.lat/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Primary stress falls on the last syllable '-âtes', as is typical in French.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

/de/

Open syllable, single vowel.

mous/mu/

Open syllable, single vowel.

cai/kɛ/

Open syllable, diphthong 'ai' treated as single vowel.

llâ/la/

Open syllable, consonant cluster 'll' remains intact.

tes/te/

Closed syllable, ends in consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

dé-(prefix)
+
mouscaille(root)
+
-âtes(suffix)

Prefix: dé-

Latin *dis-* meaning 'removal', 'reversal'. Indicates reversal or removal of action.

Root: mouscaille

From Old French *mouscaille*, related to *moucheture* (speck, scale). Denotes scales or flakes.

Suffix: -âtes

From Latin *-atis*. 2nd person plural imperfect indicative ending.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To remove scales or flakes from something.

Translation: You (plural, past imperfect) were removing scales.

Examples:

"Vous démouscaillâtes le poisson avant de le cuire."

Synonyms: écailler, gratter
Antonyms: écaille
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

démoussaillerdé-mous-sai-ller

Shares the 'dé-' prefix and similar vowel-consonant structure.

démarrerdé-ma-rer

Shares the 'dé-' prefix, demonstrating consistent prefix application.

escaladeres-ca-la-der

Similar vowel-consonant structure and final syllable stress.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Rule

Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.

Closed Syllable Rule

Syllables can end in a consonant sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The verb 'démouscailler' is relatively uncommon.

The 'sc' cluster is a standard feature of French phonology.

The 'ai' diphthong is treated as a single vowel sound for syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'démouscaillâtes' is a conjugated verb form divided into five syllables (dé-mous-cai-llâ-tes) with stress on the final syllable. It consists of the prefix 'dé-', root 'mouscaille', and suffix '-âtes'. Its IPA transcription is /de.mu.skaj.lat/.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "démouscaillâtes"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "démouscaillâtes" is a conjugated form of the verb "démouscailler" (to remove scales, to descale). It's a relatively uncommon verb, and its pronunciation reflects its complex morphology. The pronunciation involves liaison and elision possibilities depending on the following word in a sentence.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: dé- (Latin dis- meaning 'removal', 'reversal'). Function: Prefix indicating reversal or removal of an action.
  • Root: mouscaille (from Old French mouscaille, related to moucheture - speck, scale). Function: Root denoting scales or flakes.
  • Suffix: -âtes (from Latin -atis). Function: 2nd person plural imperfect indicative ending.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/de.mu.skaj.lat/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "sc" cluster is a potential edge case, but in French, it's generally treated as a single unit within a syllable. The "ai" diphthong is also standard.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Démouscaillâtes" is the 2nd person plural imperfect indicative of the verb "démouscailler". Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the verb's conjugation.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To remove scales or flakes from something.
  • Translation: You (plural, past imperfect) were removing scales.
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (2nd person plural imperfect indicative)
  • Synonyms: écailler (to scale), gratter (to scrape)
  • Antonyms: écaille (to scale, but as a process happening to something)
  • Examples: "Vous démouscaillâtes le poisson avant de le cuire." (You were scaling the fish before cooking it.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "démoussailler" (to remove moss): dé-mous-sai-ller. Similar prefix and structure, stress on the final syllable.
  • "démarrer" (to start): dé-ma-rer. Similar prefix, but simpler root. Stress on the final syllable.
  • "escalader" (to climb): es-ca-la-der. Different prefix, but similar vowel-consonant structure. Stress on the final syllable.

These comparisons demonstrate the consistent stress pattern on the final syllable in French verbs, even with varying prefixes and root structures.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
/de/ Open syllable, containing a single vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule - syllables end in a vowel sound. None
mous /mu/ Open syllable, containing a single vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule. None
cai /kɛ/ Open syllable, containing a single vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule. The "ai" is a diphthong, but treated as a single vowel sound for syllabification.
llâ /la/ Open syllable, containing a single vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule. The "ll" is a consonant cluster, but remains within the syllable.
tes /te/ Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Closed syllable rule - syllables end in a consonant sound. None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Open Syllable Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
  • Closed Syllable Rule: Syllables can end in a consonant sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are complex and disrupt the flow of pronunciation.

Special Considerations:

The verb "démouscailler" is relatively rare, and its conjugation can be challenging for non-native speakers. The "sc" cluster is a common feature of French, and its treatment within a syllable is consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Démouscaillâtes" is the 2nd person plural imperfect indicative of "démouscailler". It's divided into five syllables: dé-mous-cai-llâ-tes, with stress on the final syllable. The word is composed of the prefix "dé-", the root "mouscaille", and the suffix "-âtes". Its phonetic transcription is /de.mu.skaj.lat/.

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

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