HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofempoissonnement

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

em-poi-sson-ne-ment

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

/ɑ̃.pwas.ɔ̃.mɑ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

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

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

em/ɑ̃/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus.

poi/pwas/

Closed syllable, consonant onset and coda.

sson/sɔ̃/

Closed syllable, 'ss' treated as a single consonant sound.

ne/nə/

Open syllable, consonant onset.

ment/mɑ̃/

Closed syllable, consonant onset and coda, nasal vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

em-(prefix)
+
poisson-(root)
+
-nement(suffix)

Prefix: em-

Latin origin (in-), transitive prefix.

Root: poisson-

From 'poisson' (fish), base for the verb.

Suffix: -nement

Latin origin (-mentum), forms a noun of action.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The act of poisoning, or the state of being poisoned.

Translation: Poisoning

Examples:

"L'empoissonnement a été rapide."

"Les symptômes de l'empoissonnement sont graves."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

développementdé-ve-lop-pe-ment

Similar structure with prefix, root, and -ment suffix.

établissementé-ta-blis-se-ment

Similar suffix and stress pattern.

remplacementrem-pla-ce-ment

Similar structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Each syllable attempts to have a consonant onset when possible.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Consonants are generally not left at the end of a syllable unless they form a natural coda.

Vowel Nucleus

Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus.

Special Considerations

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

Nasal vowels influence syllable structure.

The 'ss' cluster is treated as a single sound.

Regional variations in pronunciation may exist.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The French noun 'empoissonnement' (poisoning) is divided into five syllables (em-poi-sson-ne-ment) with stress on the penultimate syllable. It's morphologically complex, built from a prefix, root, and suffix, and its syllabification follows standard French rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "empoissonnement"

1. Pronunciation: The word "empoissonnement" is pronounced /ɑ̃.pwas.ɔ̃.mɑ̃/ in standard French.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: em- (Latin in-, meaning "in, into"). Function: Prefixes the verb to create a transitive verb.
  • Root: poisson- (from poisson, meaning "fish"). Function: Noun denoting fish, used here as the base for the verb.
  • Suffix: -nement (Latin -mentum, forming a noun from a verb). Function: Creates a noun of action or result.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ɑ̃.pwas.ɔ̃.ˈmɑ̃/.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ɑ̃.pwas.ɔ̃.mɑ̃/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllabification generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. The "ss" in "empoissonnement" is a potential area for consideration, but it's treated as a single consonant sound within the syllable pwas. Nasal vowels also influence syllable structure.

7. Grammatical Role: "empoissonnement" is a noun. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it's a single, unchanging word form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The act of poisoning, or the state of being poisoned.
  • Translation: Poisoning (English)
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
  • Synonyms: intoxication, empoisonnement (same word, used reflexively)
  • Antonyms: guérison (cure), désintoxication (detoxification)
  • Examples:
    • "L'empoissonnement a été rapide." (The poisoning was rapid.)
    • "Les symptômes de l'empoissonnement sont graves." (The symptoms of poisoning are serious.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • développement: dé-ve-lop-pe-ment. Similar structure with a prefix, root, and -ment suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • établissement: é-ta-blis-se-ment. Similar suffix and stress pattern.
  • remplacement: rem-pla-ce-ment. Similar structure and stress pattern.

The consistent stress on the penultimate syllable in these words, all ending in "-ment", highlights a common pattern in French noun formation. The syllable division rules are applied similarly, prioritizing maximizing onsets.

Syllable List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • em- /ɑ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. No consonant cluster to break up.
  • poi- /pwas/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant 'p' forms the onset, 'oi' the nucleus, and 's' the coda.
  • sson- /sɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: 'ss' functions as a single consonant sound in the coda, 'o' is the nucleus.
  • ne- /nə/ - Open syllable. Rule: 'n' forms the onset, 'e' the nucleus.
  • ment /mɑ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: 'm' forms the onset, 'ent' the coda, 'ɑ̃' the nucleus.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Maximize Onsets: Each syllable attempts to have a consonant onset when possible.
  • Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are generally not left at the end of a syllable unless they form a natural coda.
  • Vowel Nucleus: Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus.

Special Considerations:

  • The nasal vowels /ɑ̃/ and /ɔ̃/ influence syllable structure, as they require a following nasal consonant.
  • The "ss" cluster is treated as a single sound within the syllable, avoiding a syllable break between the two 's' sounds.
  • Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the perceived syllable boundaries, but the core structure remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"empoissonnement" is a French noun meaning "poisoning." It's divided into five syllables: em-poi-sson-ne-ment, with stress on the penultimate syllable. The word is morphologically complex, consisting of a Latin-derived prefix (em-), root (poisson-), and suffix (-nement). Syllabification follows standard French rules, maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

The hottest word splits in French

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

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.