Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [sem-ee-vou-uh l]
- /ˈsɛm iˌvaʊ əl/
- /ˈse.mɪ.vaʊəl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [sem-ee-vou-uh l]
- /ˈsɛm iˌvaʊ əl/
Definitions of semivowel word
- noun semivowel Phonetics. a speech sound of vowel quality used as a consonant, as (w) in wet or (y) in yet. 1
- noun semivowel a vowel-like sound that acts like a consonant, in that it serves the same function in a syllable carrying the same amount of prominence as a consonant relative to a true vowel, the nucleus of the syllable. In English and many other languages the chief semivowels are (w) in well and (j), represented as y, in yell 0
- noun semivowel a frictionless continuant classified as one of the liquids; (l) or (r) 0
- noun semivowel a vowel-like sound occurring in consonantal positions in the same syllable with a true vowel, characterized by brief duration and rapid change from one position of articulation to another 0
Information block about the term
Origin of semivowel
First appearance:
before 1520 One of the 28% oldest English words
1520-30; semi- + vowel; replacing semivocal < Latin sēmivocālis half vowel
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Semivowel
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
semivowel popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 51% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.
semivowel usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerTop questions with semivowel
- what is a semivowel?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with s
- Words starting with se
- Words starting with sem
- Words starting with semi
- Words starting with semiv
- Words starting with semivo
- Words starting with semivow
- Words starting with semivowe
- Words starting with semivowel