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Hyphenation ofsous-entendant

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sous-s-en-tan-dant

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

/su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dɑ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Primary stress falls on the final syllable 'dant'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sou/su/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

s/z/

Syllable created by liaison, consonant onset.

en/ɑ̃/

Closed syllable with nasal vowel.

tan/tɑ̃/

Closed syllable with nasal vowel.

dant/dɑ̃/

Closed syllable with nasal vowel, stressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous(prefix)
+
entendre(root)
+
ant(suffix)

Prefix: sous

From Latin 'sub-', meaning 'under, below'. Preposition/prefix indicating position or degree.

Root: entendre

From Latin 'intendere', meaning 'to hear, to understand'. Verb.

Suffix: ant

From Latin '-ans'. Present participle/agentive suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A person who implies something without stating it directly; someone who hints.

Translation: Implicant, one who implies.

Examples:

"Il est un sous-entendant habile."

"Un regard sous-entendant."

adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Implicit, suggestive.

Translation: Implicit, suggestive.

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

restaurantre-sto-ran

Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters and final stress.

importantim-por-tant

Similar vowel structure and final consonant cluster, final stress.

étudianté-tu-di-ant

Similar suffix '-ant' and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Syllables prefer to have consonant onsets when possible.

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are generally divided after vowels.

Liaison Rule

Liaison creates a syllable onset.

Special Considerations

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

The liaison between 'sous' and 'entendant' is crucial.

Nasal vowels influence syllable weight and phonetic transcription.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-entendant' is divided into five syllables: sous-s-en-tan-dant. It consists of the prefix 'sous-', the root 'entendre', and the suffix '-ant'. The primary stress falls on the final syllable 'dant'. The liaison between 'sous' and 'entendant' is a key phonetic feature.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-entendant"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-entendant" is pronounced approximately as /su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dɑ̃/. The liaison between "sous" and "entendant" is common and often obligatory.

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:

  • Prefix: sous- (from Old French sos, ultimately from Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Morphological function: preposition/prefix indicating position or degree.
  • Root: entendre (from Old French entendre, ultimately from Latin intendere meaning "to stretch the mind, to pay attention"). Morphological function: verb meaning "to hear, to understand".
  • Suffix: -ant (from Old French -ant, ultimately from Latin -ans). Morphological function: present participle/agentive suffix, forming a noun or adjective.

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

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dɑ̃/

6. Edge Case Review: The liaison between sous and entendant is a key consideration. The nasal vowels also require careful transcription.

7. Grammatical Role: "Sous-entendant" functions primarily as a present participle used as a noun (the one who implies) or as an adjective (implicit). Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A person who implies something without stating it directly; someone who hints.
  • Translation: Implicant, one who implies.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine) or Adjective.
  • Synonyms: insinuateur, suggesteur
  • Antonyms: expliciteur, déclarateur
  • Examples: "Il est un sous-entendant habile." (He is a skilled implicator.) "Un regard sous-entendant." (An implicating glance.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "restaurant": re-sto-ran. Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress on the final syllable.
  • "important": im-por-tant. Similar vowel structure and final consonant cluster. Stress on the final syllable.
  • "étudiant": é-tu-di-ant. Similar suffix -ant and stress pattern.

Syllable Analysis Details:

  • sou-: /su/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
  • -s: /z/ - Syllable created by liaison. Rule: Liaison creates a syllable onset. Exception: Liaison is context-dependent.
  • -en-: /ɑ̃/ - Closed syllable with nasal vowel. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
  • -tan-: /tɑ̃/ - Closed syllable with nasal vowel. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
  • -dant: /dɑ̃/ - Closed syllable with nasal vowel. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

  • The liaison between sous and entendant is a crucial element of pronunciation and syllabification.
  • Nasal vowels require specific phonetic transcription and can influence syllable weight.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Maximize Onsets: Syllables prefer to have consonant onsets when possible.
  • Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are generally divided after vowels.
  • Liaison Rule: Liaison creates a syllable onset.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.