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Hyphenation ofquatre-vingt-six

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

quatre-vingt-six

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

/katʁ.vɛ̃.sik/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001

Primary stress falls on the final syllable, 'six'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

quatre/katʁ/

Open syllable, onset maximization applied.

vingt/vɛ̃/

Open syllable, onset maximization applied, nasal vowel present.

six/sik/

Closed syllable, primary stress, consonant coda.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

quatre-(prefix)
+
vingt-(root)
+
six(suffix)

Prefix: quatre-

From Latin *quattuor* ('four'), numeral prefix.

Root: vingt-

From Latin *viginti* ('twenty'), numeral prefix.

Suffix: six

From Latin *sex* ('six'), numeral.

Meanings & Definitions
cardinal numeral(grammatical role in sentences)

The number 86.

Translation: Eighty-six

Examples:

"Il habite au numéro quatre-vingt-six."

"J'ai payé quatre-vingt-six euros."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

trente-deuxtren-te-deux

Similar numeral structure with prefixes and a final numeral.

cinquante-septcin-quan-te-sept

Similar numeral structure with prefixes and a final numeral.

soixante-dixsoi-xan-te-dix

Similar numeral structure with prefixes and a final numeral.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Attempting to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Avoiding leaving single consonants without a vowel.

Final Syllable Stress

French generally stresses the final syllable of a word.

Special Considerations

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

Regional variations in /ʁ/ pronunciation.

Liaison in connected speech does not affect internal syllabification.

Hyphenated structure reflects historical composition.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'quatre-vingt-six' is a French cardinal numeral meaning '86'. It is divided into three syllables: 'quatre', 'vingt', and 'six', with primary stress on the final syllable. The syllabification follows rules of onset maximization and avoiding stranded consonants. It shares a similar structure with other French cardinal numbers.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "quatre-vingt-six" (French)

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced approximately as /katʁ.vɛ̃.sik/. It represents the number 86.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows:

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • quatre-: From Old French quatre, ultimately from Latin quattuor ("four"). Functions as a numeral prefix.
  • vingt-: From Old French vint, ultimately from Latin viginti ("twenty"). Functions as a numeral prefix.
  • six: From Old French sis, ultimately from Latin sex ("six"). Functions as a numeral.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable, six.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /katʁ.vɛ̃.sik/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllable structure generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. However, the /ʁ/ in quatre and vingt can create a slight challenge. The nasal vowel /ɛ̃/ in vingt also influences the syllabification.

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:

  • Definition: The number 86.
  • Grammatical Category: Cardinal numeral.
  • Translation: Eighty-six (English)
  • Synonyms: quatre-vingt-six (no real synonyms, just alternative phrasing)
  • Antonyms: None applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "Il habite au numéro quatre-vingt-six." (He lives at number eighty-six.)
    • "J'ai payé quatre-vingt-six euros." (I paid eighty-six euros.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • trente-deux: /tʁɑ̃t.dø/ - Syllable division: tren-te-deux. Similar structure with numeral prefixes and a final numeral. Stress on the final syllable.
  • cinquante-sept: /sɛ̃.kɑ̃t.sɛt/ - Syllable division: cin-quan-te-sept. Similar structure, stress on the final syllable.
  • soixante-dix: /swa.sɑ̃t.di/ - Syllable division: soi-xan-te-dix. Similar structure, stress on the final syllable.

These comparisons demonstrate a consistent pattern of syllabification in French cardinal numbers formed with prefixes like quatre, vingt, trente, cinquante, and soixante, followed by a final numeral. The stress consistently falls on the final numeral.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • quatre: /katʁ/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Onset maximization. Potential exception: The /ʁ/ could be considered part of the following syllable, but it's more common to include it in the onset.
  • vingt: /vɛ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Onset maximization. The nasal vowel influences the syllable structure.
  • six: /sik/ - Closed syllable. Rule applied: Consonant codas are permitted. This syllable receives the primary stress.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset Maximization: Attempting to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
  • Avoid Stranded Consonants: Avoiding leaving single consonants without a vowel.
  • Final Syllable Stress: French generally stresses the final syllable of a word.

Special Considerations:

  • The pronunciation of /ʁ/ can vary regionally (uvular vs. alveolar trill). This doesn't significantly affect syllabification.
  • Liaison (linking of final consonants to initial vowels) doesn't affect the internal syllabification of quatre-vingt-six itself, but would occur in connected speech.
  • The hyphenated structure reflects the historical composition of the number and isn't a typical syllabification marker in other words.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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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.