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Hyphenation ofsous-utilisèrent

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sous-u-ti-li-sè-rent

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

/su.ti.li.zɛ.ʁɛ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001011

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('li' in 'utilisèrent'). French stress is generally less prominent than in English, but it's still discernible.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sous/su/

Open syllable, containing a vowel and a consonant. The 's' is pronounced.

u/ti/

Open syllable, containing a vowel and a consonant. The 'u' is pronounced.

ti/li/

Open syllable, containing a vowel and a consonant. The 'i' is pronounced.

li/zɛ/

Open syllable, containing a vowel and a consonant. The 'i' is pronounced.

/ʁɛ̃/

Closed syllable, containing a vowel and a nasal consonant. The 'è' is pronounced with a nasal vowel.

rent/ʁɛ̃/

Closed syllable, containing a vowel and a consonant. The 'r' is pronounced.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous-(prefix)
+
utilis-(root)
+
-èrent(suffix)

Prefix: sous-

Latin origin, meaning 'under', 'below'. Functions as an intensifier.

Root: utilis-

Latin origin (*utilis*), meaning 'useful'. Core meaning of the verb.

Suffix: -èrent

Latin origin, past tense marker for the third-person plural. Indicates tense and agreement.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

They used (something) little or not at all; they underutilized.

Translation: They underutilized.

Examples:

"Ils sous-utilisèrent les ressources disponibles."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

utiliseru-ti-li-ser

Shares the same root and suffix structure, exhibiting similar syllabification patterns.

sous-estimersous-es-ti-mer

Contains the same 'sous-' prefix and follows a similar prefix + root + suffix structure.

considérèrentcon-si-dé-rè-rent

Shares the '-èrent' suffix and a comparable syllable structure, demonstrating consistent syllabification rules.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable. This is the primary rule applied throughout the word.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are generally kept together unless they are complex and difficult to pronounce. The 'str' cluster in 'sous' is treated as a unit.

Prefix/Suffix Separation

Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into distinct syllables. 'sous-' and '-èrent' are treated as separate units.

Special Considerations

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

The 'sous-' prefix can sometimes blend phonetically, but remains a separate syllable orthographically.

The pronunciation of nasal vowels can vary slightly regionally, but doesn't affect syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-utilisèrent' is divided into six syllables: sous-u-ti-li-sè-rent. It consists of the prefix 'sous-', the root 'utilis-', and the suffix '-èrent'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-based rules, consonant cluster handling, and prefix/suffix separation.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-utilisèrent"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "sous-utilisèrent" is a conjugated form of the verb "utiliser" (to use) in the passé simple tense, third-person plural. It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division is as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sous- (Latin origin, meaning "under," "below"). Morphological function: intensifier, modifying the verb's meaning.
  • Root: utilis- (Latin utilis, meaning "useful"). Morphological function: core meaning of the verb.
  • Suffix: -èrent (Latin origin, past tense marker for the third-person plural). Morphological function: indicates tense and agreement.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: li-sé-rèrent. While French stress is generally less prominent than in English, it's still discernible.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/su.ti.li.zɛ.ʁɛ̃/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "sous-" prefix can sometimes blend phonetically with the following syllable, but orthographically, it remains a separate syllable. The "r" sound in "-èrent" is a typical French feature and doesn't pose a specific syllabification challenge.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Sous-utilisèrent" is exclusively a verb form (past historic, 3rd person plural). Syllabification doesn't shift based on grammatical role as it's a conjugated verb.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: They used (something) little or not at all; they underutilized.
  • Part of Speech: Verb (passé simple, 3rd person plural)
  • Translation: They underutilized.
  • Synonyms: négligèrent (neglected), peu utilisèrent (used little)
  • Antonyms: utilisèrent pleinement (fully utilized)
  • Examples: "Ils sous-utilisèrent les ressources disponibles." (They underutilized the available resources.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • utiliser: u-ti-li-ser (similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable)
  • sous-estimer: sous-es-ti-mer (prefix + root + suffix, similar syllabification pattern)
  • considérèrent: con-si-dé-rè-rent (similar suffix, stress pattern)

The syllable division in "sous-utilisèrent" follows the same principles as these words: vowel-based division, avoidance of breaking consonant clusters, and stress on the penultimate syllable.

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /su.ti.li.zɛ.ʁɛ̃/, some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel sounds, but the syllabification remains consistent.

11. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Vowel-Based Syllabification: Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are generally kept together unless they are complex and difficult to pronounce.
  • Rule 3: Prefix/Suffix Separation: Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into distinct syllables.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.