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vowel

vow·el
V v

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [vou-uh l]
    • /ˈvaʊ əl/
    • /vaʊəl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [vou-uh l]
    • /ˈvaʊ əl/

Definitions of vowel word

  • noun vowel Phonetics. (in English articulation) a speech sound produced without occluding, diverting, or obstructing the flow of air from the lungs (opposed to consonant). (in a syllable) the sound of greatest sonority, as i in grill. Compare consonant (def 1b). (in linguistic function) a concept empirically determined as a phonological element in structural contrast with consonant, as the (ē) of be (bē), we (wē), and yeast (yēst). 1
  • noun vowel a letter representing or usually representing a vowel, as, in English, a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. 1
  • adjective vowel of or relating to a vowel. 1
  • noun vowel speech: open sound, not consonant 1
  • adjective vowel sound: open, not consonant 1
  • countable noun vowel A vowel is a sound such as the ones represented in writing by the letters 'a', 'e' 'i', 'o' and 'u', which you pronounce with your mouth open, allowing the air to flow through it. Compare consonant. 0

Information block about the term

Origin of vowel

First appearance:

before 1275
One of the 13% oldest English words
1275-1325; Middle English < Old French vowel < Latin vōcālis vocal

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Vowel

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

vowel popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 88% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

vowel usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for vowel

adj vowel

  • choral — Choral music is sung by a choir.
  • vocal — of, relating to, or uttered with the voice: the vocal mechanism; vocal criticism.

adjective vowel

  • expressed — Simple past tense and past participle of express.
  • intonated — Simple past tense and past participle of intonate.
  • modulated — Simple past tense and past participle of modulate.
  • operatic — of or relating to opera: operatic music.

Top questions with vowel

  • when is ya vowel?
  • what is a vowel?
  • when is y a vowel?
  • what does vowel mean?
  • in which situation is a combining vowel never used?
  • what is a short vowel?
  • what is a long vowel?
  • how many vowel sounds in english?
  • when is wa vowel?
  • when is ya vowel examples?
  • what is vowel?
  • when is w a vowel?
  • why is y sometimes a vowel?
  • when is y not a vowel?
  • when is y considered a vowel?

See also

Matching words

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