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Hyphenation ofspécifiquement

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

spéc-i-fi-que-ment

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

/spe.si.fi.kə.mɑ̃.tə/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable 'que'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

spéc/spek/

Open syllable, consonant cluster at the end.

i/i/

Open syllable, single vowel.

fi/fi/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

que/kə/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

ment/mɑ̃.tə/

Closed syllable, nasal vowel and consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

spé-(prefix)
+
cif-(root)
+
-ique(suffix)

Prefix: spé-

From Latin *specialis*, intensifier.

Root: cif-

From Latin *specifīcus*, core meaning 'specific'.

Suffix: -ique

From Latin *-icus*, adjectival suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

Specifically, particularly, in a precise manner.

Translation: Specifically

Examples:

"Il a été spécifiquement invité."

"Ce problème est spécifiquement lié à ce projet."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

fréquemmentfré-quem-ment

Similar structure with a prefix, root, and adverbial suffix.

différemmentdif-fé-rem-ment

Similar structure with a prefix, root, and adverbial suffix.

actuellementac-tu-el-le-ment

Similar structure with a prefix, root, and adverbial suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Attempting to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.

Vowel as Syllable Nucleus

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Resolution

Consonant clusters are split according to phonotactic constraints.

Special Considerations

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

Pronunciation of 'c' before 'i' as /s/.

Silent final 't'.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'spécifiquement' is divided into five syllables: spéc-i-fi-que-ment. It's an adverb derived from Latin roots, with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows standard French rules of maximizing onsets and vowel-centered syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "spécifiquement"

1. Pronunciation:

The word "spécifiquement" is pronounced /spe.si.fi.kə.mɑ̃.tə/. The 'c' before 'i' is pronounced /s/. The final 't' is silent in standard pronunciation. The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ is a key feature.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel clusters, is: spéc-i-fi-que-ment.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: spé- (Latin specialis - meaning 'special'). Function: Intensifier, modifying the root.
  • Root: cif- (Latin specifīcus - meaning 'specific'). Function: Core meaning relating to specificity.
  • Suffix: -ique (Latin -icus). Function: Adjectival suffix.
  • Suffix: -ment (Latin -mentum). Function: Forms an adverb from an adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: "que".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/spe.si.fi.kə.mɑ̃.tə/

6. Syllable List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • spéc: /spek/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Potential exception: The 'c' is pronounced /s/ due to the following 'i'.
  • i: /i/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable.
  • fi: /fi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • que: /kə/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Primary stress.
  • ment: /mɑ̃.tə/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Nasal vowel /ɑ̃/.

7. Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset Maximization: Attempting to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
  • Vowel as Syllable Nucleus: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Resolution: Consonant clusters are split according to phonotactic constraints, favoring the vowel to be the nucleus.

8. Exceptions and Special Cases:

  • The pronunciation of 'c' before 'i' as /s/ is a standard rule but needs to be considered.
  • The final 't' is silent, impacting the phonetic realization but not the orthographic syllable division.

9. Grammatical Role:

"Spécifiquement" functions as an adverb. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

10. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Specifically, particularly, in a precise manner.
  • Translation: Specifically
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: particulièrement, précisément, expressément
  • Antonyms: généralement, vaguement
  • Examples: "Il a été spécifiquement invité." (He was specifically invited.) "Ce problème est spécifiquement lié à ce projet." (This problem is specifically related to this project.)

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Fréquemment: fré-quem-ment. Similar structure with a prefix, root, and adverbial suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Différemment: dif-fé-rem-ment. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Actuellement: ac-tu-el-le-ment. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.

These words all share the -ment suffix, indicating an adverbial function, and exhibit a consistent stress pattern on the penultimate syllable. The syllable division follows similar principles of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel clusters.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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