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Hyphenation ofsous-entendriez

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sou-sous-en-ten-driez

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

/su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dʁie/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

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The primary stress falls on the final syllable, 'driez', which is typical for French verbs.

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.

sous/su/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant, subject to elision.

en/ɑ̃/

Nasal vowel, closed syllable.

ten/tɑ̃/

Nasal vowel, closed syllable.

driez/dʁie/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable.

z/z/

Liaison syllable, connecting 'sous' and 'entendriez'.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous-(prefix)
+
entendre(root)
+
-driez(suffix)

Prefix: sous-

Latin *sub-*, meaning 'under', functions as an intensifier.

Root: entendre

Latin *intendere*, meaning 'to understand', core meaning of the verb.

Suffix: -driez

Conditional suffix, second person plural, derived from *avoir* and the infinitive stem.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To imply, to hint at, to suggest without stating directly.

Translation: To imply, to suggest.

Examples:

"Il sous-entendait qu'il était mécontent."

"Qu'est-ce que vous sous-entendez par ?"

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comprendrecom-pren-dre

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern in verbs.

entendreen-ten-dre

Shares the root 'entendre' and exhibits the same final syllable stress.

surprendresur-pren-dre

Similar structure and stress pattern, demonstrating a common pattern in French verbs.

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 maintained within a syllable.

Liaison Rule

Liaison creates a syllable bridge between words.

Special Considerations

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

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

The conditional suffix '-driez' influences the stress pattern.

Nasal vowels require careful consideration in syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-entendriez' is a verb in the conditional mood, second person plural, meaning 'to imply'. It is syllabified as sou-sous-en-ten-driez, with stress on the final syllable 'driez'. The analysis considers the morphemic structure (prefix 'sous-', root 'entendre', suffix '-driez'), liaison, and standard French syllabification rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-entendriez" (French)

1. Pronunciation:

The word "sous-entendriez" is pronounced approximately as /su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dʁie/. The liaison between "sous" and "entendriez" is common and expected.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: sou-sous-en-ten-driez.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sous- (Latin sub- meaning "under"). Function: Intensifier, indicating something done subtly or implicitly.
  • Root: entendre (Latin intendere meaning "to stretch the mind towards, to understand"). Function: Core meaning of understanding.
  • Suffix: -driez (Conditional suffix derived from the verb avoir and the infinitive stem). Function: Indicates conditional mood, second person plural.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the final syllable: "driez". French generally has stress on the last syllable of a phrase or a word group.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dʁie/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "sous" and "entendriez" is a key consideration. The elision of the vowel in "sous" before the vowel in "entendriez" is standard.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Sous-entendre" is a verb. The form "sous-entendriez" is the second-person plural conditional form. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the verb's tense or mood.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To imply, to hint at, to suggest without stating directly.
  • Translation: To imply, to suggest.
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (conditional mood, second person plural)
  • Synonyms: suggérer, insinuer, laisser entendre
  • Antonyms: affirmer, déclarer, énoncer
  • Examples:
    • "Il sous-entendait qu'il était mécontent." (He was implying that he was unhappy.)
    • "Qu'est-ce que vous sous-entendez par là ?" (What are you implying by that?)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • comprendre: com-pren-dre (similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable)
  • entendre: en-ten-dre (similar root, stress on the final syllable)
  • surprendre: sur-pren-dre (similar structure, stress on the final syllable)

The consistent stress on the final syllable in these words demonstrates a common pattern in French verb conjugation. The presence of the prefix "sous-" in "sous-entendriez" doesn't alter the stress pattern.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
sou /su/ Open syllable Vowel followed by consonant Liaison with the next word is possible.
sous /su/ Open syllable Vowel followed by consonant Elision occurs before a vowel in the following syllable.
en /ɑ̃/ Nasal vowel, closed syllable Nasal vowel followed by consonant
ten /tɑ̃/ Nasal vowel, closed syllable Nasal vowel followed by consonant
drie /dʁie/ Closed syllable, stressed Consonant cluster followed by vowel Final syllable, receives primary stress.
z /z/ Liaison syllable Liaison between "sous" and "entendriez" Liaison is obligatory in formal speech.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are generally divided after vowels (e.g., sou-sous).
  2. Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable, especially at the end (e.g., ten-driez).
  3. Liaison Rule: Liaison creates a syllable bridge between words.

Special Considerations:

  • The liaison between "sous" and "entendriez" is crucial for accurate pronunciation and syllabification.
  • The conditional suffix "-driez" is a complex morpheme that influences the stress pattern.
  • The nasal vowels /ɑ̃/ require careful consideration in syllable division.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.dʁie/, some regional variations might exist in the pronunciation of nasal vowels or the degree of liaison. However, these variations generally do not affect the core syllable division.

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

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