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Hyphenation ofembarbouillâtes

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

em-bar-bouil-lâ-tes

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

/ɛ̃.baʁ.bu.jɑ.te/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01001

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('lâ').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

em/ɛ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel. Initial syllable.

bar/baʁ/

Open syllable, with a voiced alveolar stop and a uvular fricative.

bouil/buj/

Closed syllable, containing a consonant cluster and a semi-vowel.

/lɑ/

Open syllable, with a lateral approximant and an open back vowel.

tes/te/

Closed syllable, with a voiceless alveolar stop and a close-mid front vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

em-(prefix)
+
barbouil-(root)
+
-âtes(suffix)

Prefix: em-

Latin origin, inceptive prefix.

Root: barbouil-

French origin, related to 'barbouiller' (to smear).

Suffix: -âtes

French verb conjugation ending, 2nd person plural imperfect subjunctive.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To confuse, to muddle, to obfuscate.

Translation: To confuse, to befuddle.

Examples:

"Ils vous embarbouillaient avec leurs explications."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

embarrasem-bar-ras

Shares the 'em-' prefix and similar root structure.

bourreaubour-reau

Contains the 'bour' consonant cluster, demonstrating its tendency to remain intact.

bouillirbouil-lir

Shares the 'bouil' cluster, illustrating its preservation within a syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Rule

Syllables generally end in vowels. Vowels create syllable boundaries.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable unless they are difficult to pronounce together.

Special Considerations

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

The 'bouil' cluster could potentially be split, but pronunciation dictates it remains intact.

Liaison possibilities could affect pronunciation but not syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'embarbouillâtes' is divided into five syllables: em-bar-bouil-lâ-tes. It's a verb in the 2nd person plural imperfect subjunctive, formed with the prefix 'em-', the root 'barbouil-', and the suffix '-âtes'. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows French rules prioritizing vowel sounds and maintaining consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "embarbouillâtes" (French)

1. Pronunciation: The word "embarbouillâtes" is pronounced with a relatively complex sequence of sounds, including nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

2. Syllable Division: Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are difficult to pronounce together, the word divides as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • em-: Prefix (Latin origin, meaning "in, into"). Functions to create an inceptive verb.
  • bar-: Root (French, from "barbouiller"). Meaning "to smear, to daub".
  • -bouil-: Intermediate morpheme, part of the root, related to the idea of boiling or churning, intensifying the action of "barbouiller".
  • -l-: Linking consonant.
  • -â-: Vowel, part of the root.
  • -tes: Suffix (French, verb conjugation ending). Indicates the 2nd person plural imperfect subjunctive.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /em.baʁ.bu.jɑ.te/.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ɛ̃.baʁ.bu.jɑ.te/

6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "bouill" presents a slight challenge. While French generally avoids breaking up consonant clusters, the vowel "i" creates a potential syllable boundary. However, the pronunciation strongly suggests it remains within the syllable "bouil".

7. Grammatical Role: "Embarbouillâtes" is the 2nd person plural imperfect subjunctive of the verb "embarbouiller". The syllabification remains consistent regardless of the verb form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To confuse, to muddle, to obfuscate (someone).
  • Translation: To confuse, to befuddle.
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (2nd person plural imperfect subjunctive)
  • Synonyms: embrouiller, dérouter, troubler
  • Antonyms: éclaircir, clarifier
  • Examples: "Ils vous embarbouillaient avec leurs explications." (They were confusing you with their explanations.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • embarras: /ɑ̃.ba.ʁa/ - Syllable division: em-bar-ras. Similar structure with a prefix and root.
  • bourreau: /bu.ʁo/ - Syllable division: bour-reau. Shares the "bour" cluster, demonstrating its tendency to remain together.
  • bouillir: /bu.jiʁ/ - Syllable division: bouil-lir. Demonstrates the "bouil" cluster remaining intact.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

  • em-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule.
  • bar-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule.
  • bouil-: Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant cluster rule (the "bouil" cluster is treated as a unit).
  • -lâ-: Open syllable, ending in a vowel. Rule: Open syllable rule.
  • -tes: Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant cluster rule.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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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.