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Hyphenation ofsoixante-trois

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

soi-xan-te-trois

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

/swa.sɑ̃tʁwa/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001

The primary stress falls on the final syllable, 'trois'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

soi/swa/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

xan/sɑ̃/

Nasal vowel, closed syllable.

te/tə/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant.

trois/tʁwa/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Primary stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
soixante(root)
+
trois(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: soixante

From Old French *soisante*, ultimately from Latin *sexaginta* ("sixty").

Suffix: trois

From Old French *trois*, from Latin *tres* ("three").

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Sixty-three

Translation: Sixty-three

Examples:

"J'ai soixante-trois ans."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

quatre-vingt-treizequa-tre-vingt-trei-ze

Similar structure with a number + "-treize".

cinquante-deuxcin-quan-te-deux

Similar structure with a number + a smaller number.

vingt-et-unvingt-et-un

Similar structure, though with the conjunction "et".

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Prioritize creating syllables with consonants as onsets.

Vowel-Consonant Structure

Syllables generally follow a Vowel-Consonant (VC) or Consonant-Vowel (CV) structure.

Special Considerations

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

Liaison between 'soixante' and 'trois' in spoken French does not affect written syllabification.

Regional variations in /ʁ/ pronunciation.

Nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ articulation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'soixante-trois' (sixty-three) is divided into four syllables: soi-xan-te-trois, with stress on the final syllable. It's composed of the root 'soixante' and the suffix 'trois', following French syllabification rules prioritizing onsets and vowel-consonant structures.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "soixante-trois"

1. Pronunciation: The word "soixante-trois" is pronounced approximately as /swa.sɑ̃tʁwa/. The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ is crucial.

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • soixante: From Old French soisante, ultimately from Latin sexaginta ("sixty"). Root indicating the number sixty.
  • -trois: From Old French trois, from Latin tres ("three"). Suffix indicating three.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable, "-trois".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /swa.sɑ̃tʁwa/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllable structure generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. However, the /ʁ/ sound can sometimes function as a syllable-final consonant.

7. Grammatical Role: "Soixante-trois" functions solely as a cardinal number (sixty-three). There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Sixty-three.
  • Grammatical Category: Cardinal Number
  • Translation: Sixty-three
  • Synonyms: None (it's a specific number)
  • Antonyms: None (it's a specific number)
  • Examples: "J'ai soixante-trois ans." (I am sixty-three years old.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • quatre-vingt-treize: (93) - Syllable division: qua-tre-vingt-trei-ze. Similar structure with a number + "-treize". Stress on the final syllable.
  • cinquante-deux: (52) - Syllable division: cin-quan-te-deux. Similar structure with a number + a smaller number. Stress on the final syllable.
  • vingt-et-un: (21) - Syllable division: vingt-et-un. Slightly different structure due to "et", but still follows the pattern of stress on the final element.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
soi /swa/ Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Maximizing Onsets: The 's' is preferred as the onset of the syllable. None
xan /sɑ̃/ Nasal vowel, closed syllable. Vowel-Consonant structure. Nasal vowel requires specific articulation.
te /tə/ Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant. Consonant-Vowel structure. None
trois /tʁwa/ Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Maximizing Onsets: The 'tr' is a permissible onset in French. The /ʁ/ sound can be challenging for non-native speakers.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  1. Maximize Onsets: Prioritize creating syllables with consonants as onsets whenever possible.
  2. Vowel-Consonant Structure: Syllables generally follow a Vowel-Consonant (VC) or Consonant-Vowel (CV) structure.
  3. Respect Vowel Clusters: Vowel clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Special Considerations:

  • The liaison between "soixante" and "trois" is common in spoken French, but does not affect the syllabification of the written form.
  • Regional variations in pronunciation of the /ʁ/ sound (uvular vs. alveolar) do not alter the syllable division.
  • The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ requires specific articulation and is a characteristic feature of French phonology.

Short Analysis:

"Soixante-trois" (sixty-three) is divided into four syllables: soi-xan-te-trois. The stress falls on the final syllable, "trois". The word is composed of the root "soixante" (sixty) and the suffix "-trois" (three). Syllabification follows the principles of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel-consonant structures.

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.