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Hyphenation ofsous-entendissions

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sous-en-ten-dis-sions

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

/su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dis.jɔ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Primary stress falls on the last syllable '-sions'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sous/su/

Open syllable, potentially with a silent 's'

en/ɑ̃/

Closed syllable with a nasal vowel

ten/tɑ̃/

Closed syllable with a nasal vowel and consonant cluster

dis/dis/

Open syllable

sions/jɔ̃/

Closed syllable with a nasal vowel and consonant cluster

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous(prefix)
+
entend(root)
+
issions(suffix)

Prefix: sous

Latin *sub-* meaning 'under, below'; intensifier

Root: entend

From Old French *entendre*, ultimately from Latin *intendere* meaning 'to stretch the mind, to pay attention'

Suffix: issions

Imperfect subjunctive ending

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

Imperfect subjunctive of 'sous-entendre'

Translation: would understand, were to understand

Examples:

"Si j'avais su, je vous l'aurais dit."

"Il sous-entendait qu'il n'était pas d'accord."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comprendrionscom-prend-rions

Similar verb conjugation pattern and syllable structure with nasal vowels.

finirionsfi-nir-ions

Similar verb conjugation pattern and syllable structure with nasal vowels.

entendraienten-ten-draient

Shares the root 'entend' and similar ending, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are generally divided after vowels.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are often kept together if they form a natural phonetic unit.

Nasal Vowel Syllables

Nasal vowels form their own syllable nuclei.

Special Considerations

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

The 's' in 'sous' is often silent.

Liaison between 'sous' and 'entend' can affect pronunciation.

Regional variations in liaison may occur.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-entendissions' is syllabified as 'sous-en-ten-dis-sions'. It's a verb form with a prefix 'sous-', root 'entend-', and suffix '-issions'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-consonant and nasal vowel rules, with potential exceptions like the silent 's' in 'sous'.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-entendissions"

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "sous-entendissions" is a complex verb form in French, specifically the imperfect subjunctive of the verb "sous-entendre." Pronunciation involves liaison possibilities and vowel elision depending on context. The 's' at the end of 'sous' is generally silent unless followed by a vowel sound.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sous- (Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Function: Intensifier, modifying the verb's meaning.
  • Root: entend- (from Old French entendre, ultimately from Latin intendere meaning "to stretch the mind, to pay attention"). Function: Core meaning of understanding.
  • Suffix: -issions (imperfect subjunctive ending). Function: Grammatical marker indicating tense, mood, and person/number.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress in French generally falls on the last syllable of a phrase or a word when it is isolated. In this case, the stress falls on "-issions".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dis.jɔ̃/ (Note: the liaison between 'sous' and 'entend' is represented by the '‿' symbol. The nasal vowels are represented with the appropriate diacritics.)

6. Syllable List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • sous: /su/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Potential exception: The 's' is often silent.
  • en: /ɑ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Nasal vowel forms a syllable nucleus.
  • ten: /tɑ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a nasal vowel.
  • dis: /dis/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonants.
  • sions: /jɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a nasal vowel.

7. Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  • Rule 1: Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are generally divided after vowels (e.g., sous -> sou-s).
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are often broken up, but French tends to keep them together if they form a natural phonetic unit (e.g., entend -> en-tend).
  • Rule 3: Nasal Vowel Syllables: Nasal vowels (e.g., /ɑ̃/, /ɔ̃/) form their own syllable nuclei.

8. Exceptions and Special Cases:

  • The silent 's' in sous is a common exception.
  • Liaison between sous and entend can affect pronunciation and perceived syllable boundaries.

9. Grammatical Role:

The word is a verb form. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of the verb's function within a sentence.

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in French pronunciation are minimal regarding syllabification. However, the degree of liaison can vary. Some speakers might pronounce the 's' in sous more frequently.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • comprendrions: /kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃.dʁi.jɔ̃/ - Syllables: com-prend-rions. Similar structure with nasal vowels and consonant clusters.
  • finirions: /fi.ni.ʁi.jɔ̃/ - Syllables: fi-nir-ions. Similar ending and stress pattern.
  • entendraient: /ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dʁɛ/ - Syllables: en-ten-draient. Similar root and ending, demonstrating consistent syllabification rules.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/6/2025

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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.