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Hyphenation ofémerveillassent

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

é-mer-veil-las-sent

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

/e.mɛʁ.vɛj.jas.sɑ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the last syllable ('sent'), as is typical in French.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

é/e/

Open syllable, initial vowel.

mer/mɛʁ/

Closed syllable, consonant 'r' follows vowel.

veil/vɛj/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'v' and 'l' follows vowel.

las/las/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster 'l' and 's' follows vowel.

sent/sɑ̃/

Closed syllable, nasal vowel as nucleus.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

é-(prefix)
+
merveil-(root)
+
-la-ssent(suffix)

Prefix: é-

Latin *ex-*, intensifying prefix.

Root: merveil-

Latin *mirabilis*, meaning 'wonderful'.

Suffix: -la-ssent

Thematic vowel and 3rd person plural imperfect indicative ending.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To fill with wonder; to amaze.

Translation: To amaze, to fill with wonder.

Examples:

"Les histoires qu'il racontait émerveillassent les enfants."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

émerveilleré-mer-veil-ler

Shares the same root and similar syllable structure.

merveilleuxmer-veil-leux

Shares the same root and similar syllable structure.

intéressentin-té-res-sent

Shares the same ending (-ssent) and similar syllable division rules.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-centric Syllabification

Each vowel sound forms the nucleus of a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable unless they are difficult to pronounce together.

Special Considerations

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

Liaison between 'las' and 'sent' is possible but doesn't alter the underlying syllabic structure.

Regional variations in the pronunciation of the 'r' sound do not affect syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'émerveillassent' is divided into five syllables: é-mer-veil-las-sent. Syllabification follows vowel-centric rules, with each vowel forming a syllable nucleus. The word is the 3rd person plural imperfect indicative of 'émerveiller' and means 'to amaze'.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "émerveillassent" (French)

1. Pronunciation: The word "émerveillassent" is pronounced with a relatively complex sequence of sounds, including nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

2. Syllable Division: Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are difficult to pronounce together, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: é- (Latin ex- meaning 'out of', here intensifying the verb) - prefix, derivational.
  • Root: merveil- (Latin mirabilis meaning 'wonderful') - root, lexical.
  • Suffix: -la- (thematic vowel linking the root to the suffix) - infix, grammatical.
  • Suffix: -ssent (from Latin -ant + 3rd person plural imperfect indicative ending) - suffix, inflectional, indicating 3rd person plural imperfect indicative.

4. Stress Identification: In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a phrase or breath group. In this case, the last syllable is stressed.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /e.mɛʁ.vɛj.jas.sɑ̃/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • é-mer-veil-las-sent
    • é: /e/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel initiates a syllable. No consonant cluster to break.
    • mer: /mɛʁ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant 'r' follows vowel 'e', forming a syllable.
    • veil: /vɛj/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'v' and 'l' follow vowel 'ei', forming a syllable.
    • las: /las/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'l' and 's' follow vowel 'a', forming a syllable.
    • sent: /sɑ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Nasal vowel 'ɑ̃' is the nucleus, followed by consonant 't'.

7. Edge Case Review: The 'll' cluster in "veil" is a common feature in French and doesn't typically cause syllable division issues. The nasal vowel in "sent" is also standard.

8. Grammatical Role: "émerveillassent" is the 3rd person plural imperfect indicative of the verb "émerveiller". Syllabification remains consistent regardless of tense or person.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To fill with wonder; to amaze.
  • Translation: To amaze, to fill with wonder.
  • Part of Speech: Verb (Imperfect Indicative)
  • Synonyms: étonner, ravir, fasciner
  • Antonyms: ennuyer, indifférencer
  • Examples:
    • "Les histoires qu'il racontait émerveillassent les enfants." (The stories he told amazed the children.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Pronunciation of the 'r' sound can vary regionally (uvular vs. alveolar). This doesn't affect syllable division. Liaison between "las" and "sent" is possible in fluent speech, but doesn't change the underlying syllabic structure.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • émerveiller: é-mer-veil-ler - Similar syllable structure, stress on the last syllable.
  • merveilleux: mer-veil-leux - Similar root, syllable division follows the same vowel-centric rules.
  • intéressent: in-té-res-sent - Similar ending (-ssent), syllable division follows the same rules. The initial consonant cluster is handled differently due to the vowel following it.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.