HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofquatre-vingt-dix-sept

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

quatre-vingt-dix-sept

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

/katʁə vɛ̃t di se(t)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100

Primary stress falls on the syllable 'vingt' (second syllable).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

quatre/katʁə/

Open syllable, initial consonant cluster.

vingt/vɛ̃t/

Closed syllable, nasal vowel.

dix/di/

Open syllable, simple vowel.

sept/se(t)/

Closed syllable, potential silent final consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
quatre, vingt, dix, sept(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: quatre, vingt, dix, sept

Each component is a root representing a numerical value, derived from Latin.

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
cardinal numeral(grammatical role in sentences)

The number 79.

Translation: seventy-nine

Examples:

"J'ai quatre-vingt-dix-sept ans."

"Il y a quatre-vingt-dix-sept élèves."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

trente-et-untren-te-et-un

Similar structure as a compound numeral.

cinquante-deuxcin-quan-te-deux

Similar structure as a compound numeral.

soixante-treizesoi-xan-te-trei-ze

Similar structure as a compound numeral.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Grouping

Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.

Consonant Cluster Break

Consonant clusters are broken before and after vowels.

French Syllable Structure

French tends to favor open syllables, and syllable boundaries often align with vowel sounds.

Special Considerations

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

The historical development of French numerals leads to irregular structures.

The final 't' in 'sept' is often silent, but influences syllable structure.

Liaison can affect perceived syllable boundaries but not written division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'quatre-vingt-dix-sept' is a compound numeral divided into four syllables: quatre-vingt-dix-sept. The stress falls on 'vingt'. Syllabification follows vowel grouping and consonant cluster break rules. It's derived from Latin roots representing 'four', 'twenty', 'ten', and 'seven'.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "quatre-vingt-dix-sept" (French)

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced approximately as /katʁə vɛ̃t di se(t)/. It represents the number 79.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of breaking before consonant clusters and respecting vowel sounds, is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • quatre: From Old French quatre, from Latin quattuor ("four"). Function: Numerical quantifier.
  • vingt: From Old French vint, from Latin viginti ("twenty"). Function: Numerical quantifier.
  • dix: From Old French diz, from Latin decem ("ten"). Function: Numerical quantifier.
  • sept: From Old French sept, from Latin septem ("seven"). Function: Numerical quantifier.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on vingt.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /katʁə vɛ̃t di se(t)/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllabification is largely mora-timed, meaning syllable weight influences pronunciation. The nasal vowel /ɛ̃/ in vingt affects the preceding syllable. The final 't' in sept is often silent, but its presence influences the syllable structure.

7. Grammatical Role: This word functions solely as a cardinal numeral. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: quatre-vingt-dix-sept
  • Translation: seventy-nine
  • Grammatical Category: Cardinal numeral
  • Synonyms: None (it's a specific number)
  • Antonyms: None (it's a specific number)
  • Examples:
    • "J'ai quatre-vingt-dix-sept ans." (I am seventy-nine years old.)
    • "Il y a quatre-vingt-dix-sept élèves dans la classe." (There are seventy-nine students in the class.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • trente-et-un: (31) - /tʁɑ̃t e tỹ/ - Syllable division: tren-te-et-un. Similar structure with multiple numerical components.
  • cinquante-deux: (52) - /sɛ̃kɑ̃t dø/ - Syllable division: cin-quan-te-deux. Similar structure, but with a different vowel sound in the first component.
  • soixante-treize: (63) - /swa.sɑ̃t tʁɛz/ - Syllable division: soi-xan-te-trei-ze. Similar structure, but with a more complex consonant cluster.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Vowel Grouping: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Break: Consonant clusters are broken before and after vowels.
  • Rule 3: Liaison: Liaison (linking of final consonants to initial vowels) can affect perceived syllable boundaries, but doesn't change the written syllable division.

11. Special Considerations: The historical development of French numerals is complex, leading to irregular structures. The "quatre-vingt-dix" construction is a remnant of older counting systems.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the standard pronunciation is /katʁə vɛ̃t di se(t)/, some regional variations might slightly alter vowel sounds or the pronunciation of the final 't' in sept. These variations do not significantly affect the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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.