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Hyphenation ofquatre-vingt-un

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

qua-tre-vingt-un

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

/katʁə vɛ̃t‿œ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010

Primary stress falls on the syllable 'vingt'. The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

qua/kwa/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'a'

tre/tʁə/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'e'

vingt/vɛ̃t/

Closed syllable, vowel nucleus 'ɛ̃', closed by 't'

un/œ̃/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'œ̃'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

quatre(prefix)
+
vingt(root)
+
un(suffix)

Prefix: quatre

From Latin 'quattuor' meaning 'four', numerical prefix.

Root: vingt

From Latin 'viginti' meaning 'twenty', numerical root.

Suffix: un

From Latin 'ūnus' meaning 'one', numerical suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
cardinal numeral(grammatical role in sentences)

Eighty-one

Translation: Eighty-one

Examples:

"J'ai quatre-vingt-un ans."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

cinquante-deuxcin-quan-te-deux

Similar numerical structure with prefix, root, and suffix.

soixante-dixsoi-xan-te-dix

Similar numerical structure with prefix, root, and suffix.

trente-troistren-te-trois

Similar numerical structure with prefix, root, and suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters can occur at the end of a syllable, closing it.

Written Form Rule

Syllable division is based on the written form of the word, not the phonetic realization.

Special Considerations

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

The liaison between 'vingt' and 'un' is a phonetic phenomenon that doesn't affect the written syllable division.

French syllable structure is generally open, but closed syllables are possible.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'quatre-vingt-un' is divided into four syllables: qua-tre-vingt-un. It's a cardinal number composed of a prefix ('quatre'), a root ('vingt'), and a suffix ('un'). The primary stress falls on 'vingt'. Syllable division follows the vowel nucleus and consonant cluster rules, based on the written form.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation: The word "quatre-vingt-un" is pronounced approximately as /katʁə vɛ̃t‿œ̃/. The liaison between "vingt" and "un" is common and often obligatory.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: qua-tre-vingt-un.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • quatre: From Old French quatre, from Latin quattuor ("four"). Numerical prefix.
  • vingt: From Old French vint, from Latin viginti ("twenty"). Numerical root.
  • un: From Old French un, from Latin ūnus ("one"). Numerical suffix indicating 'one'.

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

5. Phonetic Transcription: /katʁə vɛ̃t‿œ̃/

6. Edge Case Review: The liaison between "vingt" and "un" is a crucial aspect of French pronunciation and affects the syllabification in spoken form, but the written form remains unchanged.

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Eighty-one.
  • Grammatical Category: Cardinal numeral.
  • Synonyms: None (it's a specific number).
  • Antonyms: None (it's a specific number).
  • Examples: "J'ai quatre-vingt-un ans." (I am eighty-one years old.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • cinquante-deux: cin-quan-te-deux. Similar structure with a numerical prefix and root. Stress on "quan".
  • soixante-dix: soi-xan-te-dix. Similar structure. Stress on "xan".
  • trente-trois: tren-te-trois. Similar structure. Stress on "te".

The syllable division in all these examples follows the same pattern: prefix-root-suffix, with stress generally falling on the root. The presence of the liaison in "quatre-vingt-un" is a common feature in French numbers, but doesn't alter the written syllable division.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • qua: /kwa/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  • tre: /tʁə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  • vingt: /vɛ̃t/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters can close a syllable.
  • un: /œ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel Nucleus Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters can occur at the end of a syllable, closing it.
  3. Written Form Rule: Syllable division is based on the written form of the word, not the phonetic realization.

Exceptions and Special Cases:

  • The liaison between "vingt" and "un" is a phonetic phenomenon that doesn't affect the written syllable division.
  • French syllable structure is generally open (ending in a vowel), but closed syllables are possible, especially with consonant clusters.

Regional Variations: Pronunciation of vowels can vary regionally, but this doesn't affect the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.