How Do You Spell VOWEL?

Pronunciation: [vˈa͡ʊə͡l] (IPA)

The spelling of the word 'vowel' can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. The first sound in 'vowel' is /v/, which is a voiced labiodental fricative. The second sound is /aʊ/, which is a diphthong consisting of the sounds /a/ and /ʊ/. The third sound is /əl/, which is an unstressed schwa sound followed by an /l/ sound. The final sound is /l/, which is another /l/ sound. Altogether, the IPA transcription for 'vowel' is /ˈvaʊəl/.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Similar spelling words
Plural
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VOWEL Meaning and Definition

  1. A vowel is a speech sound produced by the unrestricted flow of air through the vocal tract characterized by an open vocal tract configuration. In linguistic terms, it is a sound made by the vocal cords vibrating without any obstruction. Vowels are considered the most sonorous and sonorant elements of speech, forming the nucleus of syllables in most languages. They are produced with the mouth open and the tongue positioned in various ways to modify the sound produced.

    Vowels are typically classified according to their position in the mouth, including the height, backness, and roundedness of the tongue. Height refers to the vertical position of the tongue, which can be high (close to the roof of the mouth), mid, or low (tongue close to the floor of the mouth). Backness describes the horizontal position of the tongue, which can be front, central, or back. Roundedness refers to the shape of the lips during vowel production, which can be rounded or unrounded.

    In English, there are five primary vowel sounds: /i/ (as in ‘meet’), /ɛ/ (as in ‘bed’), /æ/ (as in ‘cat’), /ɔ/ (as in ‘caught’), and /u/ (as in ‘blue’). These sounds serve as the building blocks of spoken language, forming the core components of words and allowing for variations in meaning and pronunciation.

  2. • A distinct simple sound uttered by the voice; in gram., one of the letters a, e, i, o, u, each of which represents a distinct sound, thus distinguished from the consonants, which represent imperfect sounds.
    • Pert. to or having the quality of a vowel; vocal.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for VOWEL

Etymology of VOWEL

The word "vowel" can be traced back to the Old French word "vogel" which means "sound, voice" and was derived from the Latin word "vocālis" meaning "vocal" or "relating to the voice". In Latin, "vocālis" was formed from the word "vox" meaning "voice".

Similar spelling words for VOWEL

Plural form of VOWEL is VOWELS

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Correct spelling for vowel
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