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Hyphenation ofsuperstructure

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

su-per-struc-ture

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

/sy.pɛʁ.stʁyk.tyʁ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001

Stress falls on the final syllable '-ture', which is typical for French words.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

su/sy/

Open syllable, begins with a vowel.

per/pɛʁ/

Open syllable, contains a uvular 'r' sound.

struc/stʁyk/

Closed syllable, ends with a consonant cluster.

ture/tyʁ/

Closed syllable, ends with a uvular 'r' sound, receives primary stress.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

super-(prefix)
+
struct-(root)
+
-ure(suffix)

Prefix: super-

Latin origin, meaning 'above' or 'over', intensifying prefix.

Root: struct-

Latin origin (*struere* - to build), core meaning of construction.

Suffix: -ure

Latin origin (*-ura*), forms abstract nouns denoting a process or result.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A structure built on top of or in support of an existing structure.

Translation: Superstructure

Examples:

"La superstructure du bâtiment était impressionnante."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

structurestruc-ture

Shares the '-ture' suffix and similar root, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

infrastructurein-fra-struc-ture

Contains the same '-struc-ture' core, with an added prefix, illustrating how prefixes create new syllables.

architecturea-rchi-tec-ture

Shares the '-ture' suffix and similar structure, highlighting the consistent application of syllabification rules.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

French syllables are generally built around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound typically forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are permitted at the beginning or end of a syllable, but vowels are preferred to initiate syllables.

Final Syllable Stress

French generally stresses the final syllable of a word or phrase.

Special Considerations

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

The word is a borrowing from Latin and English, requiring adaptation to French phonological rules (e.g., /y/ for 'u').

The uvular 'r' pronunciation is a characteristic of standard French.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'superstructure' is divided into four syllables: su-per-struc-ture. It's a noun of Latin origin, with stress on the final syllable. Syllabification follows French rules prioritizing vowel sounds and accommodating consonant clusters. The pronunciation reflects the adaptation of a borrowed word to French phonology.

Detailed Analysis:

French Syllable Analysis of "superstructure"

1. Pronunciation in French:

The word "superstructure" is a relatively recent borrowing into French, and its pronunciation reflects this. It's generally pronounced with a French accent, adapting to French phonological rules. The 'u' is pronounced as /y/, and the 'r' is uvular.

2. Syllable Division:

Applying French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid stranded consonants, we arrive at the following division.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over") - functions to intensify or extend the meaning of the root.
  • Root: struct- (Latin struere, meaning "to build," "to arrange") - the core meaning relating to construction.
  • Suffix: -ure (Latin -ura) - forms abstract nouns denoting a process, state, or result.

4. Stress Identification:

French generally has stress on the final syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-ture".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/sy.pɛʁ.stʁyk.tyʁ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • su- /sy/ - Open syllable. Rule: French syllables generally begin with a consonant or vowel. The 'u' is a high front rounded vowel /y/.
  • -per- /pɛʁ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are permitted at the beginning or end of a syllable, but vowels are preferred. The 'r' is a uvular fricative.
  • -struc- /stʁyk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: A syllable ends in a consonant when a vowel is followed by a consonant.
  • -ture /tyʁ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Similar to above, the 'r' closes the syllable.

7. Exceptions & Special Cases:

The word is a borrowing, so its adaptation to French phonology isn't entirely straightforward. The pronunciation of the 'u' as /y/ is a key adaptation.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Superstructure" functions primarily as a noun in French ( une superstructure). Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A structure built on top of or in support of an existing structure.
  • Translation: Superstructure
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
  • Synonyms: surbâtiment, construction supplémentaire
  • Antonyms: fondation, base
  • Examples: "La superstructure du bâtiment était impressionnante." (The superstructure of the building was impressive.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of the 'r' can vary regionally (more or less pronounced), but this doesn't significantly affect syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • structure: /stʁyk.tyʁ/ - Syllabification: struc-ture. Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent application of syllable division rules.
  • infrastructure: /ɛ̃.fʁa.stʁyk.tyʁ/ - Syllabification: in-fra-struc-ture. The initial vowel cluster creates an additional syllable, but the core "struc-ture" remains consistent.
  • architecture: /aʁ.ʃi.tɛk.tyʁ/ - Syllabification: a-rchi-tec-ture. The 'ch' consonant cluster creates a syllable boundary, but the final "-ture" remains consistent.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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