HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofintermoléculaire

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-ter-mo-lé-cu-laire

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

/ɛ̃.tɛʁ.mo.le.ky.lɛʁ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000001

Stress falls on the final syllable ('-culaire'), typical of French adjectives.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɛ̃/

Open syllable with nasal vowel onset.

ter/tɛʁ/

Consonant onset, vowel nucleus, uvular 'r'

mo/mo/

Open syllable, vowel onset.

/le/

Open syllable, vowel onset, accented 'é'

cu/ky/

Consonant onset, rounded front vowel nucleus.

laire/lɛʁ/

Consonant onset, vowel nucleus, consonant coda, final 'r'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

inter-(prefix)
+
molécul-(root)
+
-aire(suffix)

Prefix: inter-

Latin origin, meaning 'between' or 'among', prepositional prefix.

Root: molécul-

Latin origin (*molecula*), diminutive of *moles* ('mass, heap'), refers to a molecule.

Suffix: -aire

Latin origin (*-arius*), forms adjectives, indicates a relating-to quality.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Relating to the forces or interactions between molecules.

Translation: Intermolecular

Examples:

"Les forces intermoléculaires sont faibles."

"L'étude des interactions intermoléculaires est cruciale."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

extraordinaireex-tra-or-di-naire

Similar vowel sequences and final consonant clusters.

particulièrementpar-ti-cu-liè-re-ment

Shares the '-ment' suffix and a similar pattern of vowel-consonant alternation.

particulairepar-ti-cu-lai-re

Similar structure with the '-aire' suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

French favors open syllables (ending in a vowel) whenever possible.

Consonant Cluster Avoidance

Consonant clusters are generally avoided at the end of syllables.

Vowel Grouping

Vowel groups are typically separated into distinct syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The accented 'é' in 'moléculaire' affects vowel quality but not syllabification.

The uvular 'r' is a characteristic of standard French pronunciation.

Liaison possibilities influence pronunciation but not syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'intermoléculaire' is divided into six syllables: in-ter-mo-lé-cu-laire. Stress falls on the final syllable. It's an adjective formed from Latin roots, following standard French syllabification rules prioritizing open syllables and avoiding consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "intermoléculaire"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "intermoléculaire" is a French adjective meaning "intermolecular." Its pronunciation involves a relatively complex sequence of vowels and consonants, typical of French. The 'r' is a uvular fricative, and liaison is possible depending on the following word.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid stranded consonants, the word breaks down as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - functions as a prepositional prefix.
  • Root: molécul- (Latin molecula, diminutive of moles meaning "mass, heap") - refers to a molecule.
  • Suffix: -aire (Latin -arius, forming adjectives) - indicates a relating-to quality.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-culaire".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɛ̃.tɛʁ.mo.le.ky.lɛʁ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "molécul-" presents a slight edge case due to the accented 'é'. However, the syllable division follows the standard rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding consonant clusters at the end of syllables.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Intermoléculaire" is primarily an adjective. As an adjective, its syllabification and stress remain consistent. It does not readily function as other parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Relating to the forces or interactions between molecules.
  • Translation: Intermolecular
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: (None readily available as a direct synonym, but related terms include "interatomique" - interatomic)
  • Antonyms: (Intramoléculaire - intramolecular)
  • Examples:
    • "Les forces intermoléculaires sont faibles." (Intermolecular forces are weak.)
    • "L'étude des interactions intermoléculaires est cruciale." (The study of intermolecular interactions is crucial.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "extraordinaire" /ɛk.sʁa.ɔʁ.di.nɛʁ/ - Syllable division: ex-tra-or-di-naire. Similar vowel sequences and final consonant clusters. Stress on the final syllable.
  • "particulièrement" /paʁ.ti.ky.lje.ʁ.mɑ̃/ - Syllable division: par-ti-cu-liè-re-ment. Shares the "-ment" suffix and a similar pattern of vowel-consonant alternation. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • "particulaire" /paʁ.ti.ky.lɛʁ/ - Syllable division: par-ti-cu-lai-re. Similar structure with the "-aire" suffix. Stress on the final syllable.

The syllable division in "intermoléculaire" is consistent with these words, adhering to the principle of maximizing onsets and avoiding consonant clusters at syllable boundaries.

10. Syllable Breakdown with Rules & Exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
in /ɛ̃/ Open syllable, vowel onset. Nasal vowel, common in French.
ter /tɛʁ/ Consonant onset, vowel nucleus. 'r' is a uvular fricative.
mo /mo/ Open syllable, vowel onset.
/le/ Open syllable, vowel onset. Accented 'é' influences pronunciation.
cu /ky/ Consonant onset, vowel nucleus. 'u' is a rounded front vowel.
laire /lɛʁ/ Consonant onset, vowel nucleus, consonant coda. Final 'r' is pronounced.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Rule 1: Open Syllable Preference: French favors open syllables (ending in a vowel) whenever possible.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Avoidance: Consonant clusters are generally avoided at the end of syllables.
  • Rule 3: Vowel Grouping: Vowel groups are typically separated into distinct syllables.
  • Rule 4: Liaison Consideration: While not directly impacting syllable division, liaison possibilities influence pronunciation.

12. Special Considerations:

The accented 'é' in "moléculaire" doesn't alter the syllabification rules but affects the vowel quality. The uvular 'r' is a characteristic of standard French pronunciation.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in French pronunciation are minimal regarding syllable division. However, the degree of 'r' articulation (more or less pronounced) might vary.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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 dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.