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Hyphenation ofsoixante-et-un

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

soi-xan-te-et-un

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

/swa.sɑ̃t.e.t‿œ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable, 'un'

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

soi/swa/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

xan/sɑ̃/

Nasal vowel syllable, closed by 'n'

te/tə/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by consonant.

et/e/

Open syllable, vowel only.

un/œ̃/

Nasal vowel syllable, closed by 'n'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
soixante(root)
+
et-un(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: soixante

From Latin sexaginta, meaning sixty

Suffix: et-un

Combination of 'et' (and) and 'un' (one)

Meanings & Definitions
cardinal numeral(grammatical role in sentences)

Sixty-one

Translation: Sixty-one

Examples:

"J'ai soixante-et-un ans."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

trente-et-untren-te-e-tœ̃

Similar structure with a number + 'et' + 'un'

quarante-et-unka-ran-te-e-tœ̃

Similar structure with a number + 'et' + 'un'

cinquante-et-unsɛ̃-kɑ̃t-e-tœ̃

Similar structure with a number + 'et' + 'un'

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables are divided into an onset and a rime.

Nasal Vowel Rule

Nasal vowels form their own syllable nuclei.

Special Considerations

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

Potential elision of 'e' in 'et' in rapid speech

Liaison between 'et' and 'un'

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'soixante-et-un' is divided into five syllables: soi-xan-te-et-un. Stress falls on the final syllable 'un'. The word is composed of the root 'soixante' (sixty) and the suffix 'et-un' (and one). Syllabification follows the vowel nucleus rule and considers potential liaison.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "soixante-et-un"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "soixante-et-un" means "sixty-one" in French. Its pronunciation involves nasal vowels and liaison, common features of French phonology. The 'e' in 'et' is typically elided in rapid speech, but for the purpose of syllabification, we will consider it present.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • soixante: From Old French soisante, ultimately from Latin sexaginta ("sixty"). Root indicating the quantity 'sixty'.
  • et: A conjunction meaning "and". Latin origin et. Functions as a coordinating conjunction.
  • un: From Old French un, from Latin ūnus ("one"). Indicates the unit 'one'.

4. Stress Identification:

French generally has stress on the final syllable of a word or a phrase group. In this case, the stress falls on "-un".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/swa.sɑ̃t.e.t‿œ̃/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "et" and "un" (the linking of the final consonant of "et" with the initial vowel of "un") is a common feature of French. The syllabification must account for this potential elision/liaison.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Soixante-et-un" functions as a cardinal numeral (an adjective specifying quantity). Syllabification does not change based on grammatical role in this case.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Sixty-one.
  • Grammatical Category: Cardinal numeral (adjective).
  • Synonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples: "J'ai soixante-et-un ans." (I am sixty-one years old.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • trente-et-un (thirty-one): tren-te-e-tœ̃. Similar structure, with a number + "et" + "un". Stress remains on the final syllable.
  • quarante-et-un (forty-one): ka-ran-te-e-tœ̃. Again, the same structure. Stress on the final syllable.
  • cinquante-et-un (fifty-one): sɛ̃-kɑ̃t-e-tœ̃. Similar pattern, but with a different initial number. Stress on the final syllable.

These comparisons demonstrate a consistent syllabification pattern for numbers ending in "et-un". The initial number dictates the initial syllables, but the "et-un" portion remains consistent.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
soi /swa/ Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. None
xan /sɑ̃/ Nasal vowel syllable, closed by 'n'. Rule: Nasal vowels form syllable nuclei. None
te /tə/ Open syllable, vowel preceded by consonant. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. Liaison potential with 'un'.
et /e/ Open syllable, vowel only. Rule: Vowels form syllable nuclei. Liaison potential with 'un'.
un /œ̃/ Nasal vowel syllable, closed by 'n'. Rule: Nasal vowels form syllable nuclei. None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel Nucleus Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (or a syllabic consonant).
  2. Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  3. Nasal Vowel Rule: Nasal vowels form their own syllable nuclei.
  4. Liaison Consideration: While not directly affecting syllable division in writing, liaison influences pronunciation and must be considered.

Special Considerations:

  • The elision of the 'e' in 'et' is possible in rapid speech, but the written form is maintained for syllabification.
  • The liaison between 'et' and 'un' is a crucial phonetic feature but doesn't alter the written syllable division.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in French pronunciation might affect the exact quality of the nasal vowels, but the syllable division remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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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.