HyphenateIt

Hyphenation oftransformation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

trans-for-ma-tion

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

/tʁɑ̃s.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001

Stress falls on the final syllable ('tion') in French, as is typical for nouns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

trans/tʁɑ̃s/

Open syllable, initial consonant cluster.

for/fɔʁ/

Open syllable, following consonant.

ma/ma/

Open syllable, following consonant.

tion/sjɔ̃/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable, nasal vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

trans-(prefix)
+
form-(root)
+
-ation(suffix)

Prefix: trans-

Latin origin, meaning 'across, beyond, change'. Prefixes modify the meaning of the root.

Root: form-

Latin origin, from 'forma' meaning 'shape, form'. Provides the core meaning.

Suffix: -ation

Latin origin, from '-atio'. Nominalizes the verb, creating a noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A marked change in form, nature, or appearance.

Translation: Change, metamorphosis, conversion

Examples:

"La transformation de la ville est impressionnante."

"Il a subi une transformation radicale."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

informationin-for-ma-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar syllable structure.

situationsi-tu-a-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar syllable structure.

formationfor-ma-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Following Consonant

Syllables are generally divided after vowels to avoid stranded consonants.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Consonants are not left alone to begin a syllable unless part of a digraph.

Final Syllable Stress

Stress falls on the final syllable in French.

Special Considerations

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

Nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ pronunciation can vary regionally.

Uvular 'r' sound /ʁ/ can be challenging for non-native speakers.

Possible elision of 'trans-' in rapid speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'transformation' in French is divided into four syllables: trans-for-ma-tion. Stress falls on the final syllable. It's a noun derived from Latin roots with a prefix, root, and suffix. Syllable division follows the rules of vowel-following consonants and avoiding stranded consonants.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "transformation" in French

1. Pronunciation in French:

The word "transformation" in French is pronounced with a relatively consistent phonetic structure, though subtle variations can occur based on regional accents. The 'trans-' cluster is a common initial sequence, and the final '-tion' is a typical suffix.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: trans- (Latin origin, meaning "across," "beyond," or "change"). Morphological function: modifies the meaning of the root.
  • Root: form- (Latin origin, from forma meaning "shape," "form"). Morphological function: provides the core meaning.
  • Suffix: -ation (Latin origin, from -atio). Morphological function: nominalizes the verb, creating a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. Therefore, the stress falls on the final syllable: tion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/tʁɑ̃s.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/

6. Edge Case Review:

French syllabification generally avoids consonant clusters at the beginning of syllables unless they are part of a digraph (like 'ch' or 'gn'). The 'trans-' cluster is acceptable, but the vowel following it dictates the syllable division.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Transformation" is primarily a noun in French (feminine: la transformation). As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent. It does not readily function as another part of speech without significant modification.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A marked change in form, nature, or appearance.
  • Translation: Change, metamorphosis, conversion.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
  • Synonyms: métamorphose, conversion, modification
  • Antonyms: stabilité, conservation
  • Examples:
    • "La transformation de la ville est impressionnante." (The transformation of the city is impressive.)
    • "Il a subi une transformation radicale." (He underwent a radical transformation.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • information: in-for-ma-tion (similar syllable structure, final '-tion' suffix)
  • situation: si-tu-a-tion (similar syllable structure, final '-tion' suffix)
  • formation: for-ma-tion (similar syllable structure, final '-tion' suffix)

These words share the same final syllable structure and stress pattern. The differences in the initial syllables are due to the different consonant and vowel combinations. The rule of avoiding stranded consonants applies similarly in all cases.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • trans-: /tʁɑ̃s/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Vowel following consonant cluster. Exception: Consonant cluster 'tr' is permissible at the beginning of a syllable.
  • for-: /fɔʁ/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Vowel following consonant.
  • ma-: /ma/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Vowel following consonant.
  • tion: /sjɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule applied: Final syllable, receives stress. Exception: Nasal vowel sound.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Following Consonant: Syllables are generally divided after vowels.
  2. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left alone to begin a syllable unless part of a digraph.
  3. Final Syllable Stress: Stress falls on the final syllable in French.

Special Considerations:

  • The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ in "trans-" can be a point of variation in pronunciation depending on the region.
  • The 'r' sound in French is uvular /ʁ/, which can be challenging for non-native speakers.
  • The 'trans-' prefix can sometimes be pronounced with a slight elision in rapid speech.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /tʁɑ̃s.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/, some regional variations might involve a slightly more open or closed pronunciation of the vowels. However, the syllable division remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

The hottest word splits in French

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

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.