View source for Vowel

In [[phonetics]] and [[phonology]], a '''vowel''' is a [[speech sound]] in whose articulation the oral part of the [[breath channel]] is not constricted enough to cause audible frication.

===Term properties===
A relational adjective from ''vowel'' that is occasionally used is ''vocalic''.

===Comments===
Speech sounds with audible constriction are called [[consonant]]s; sounds intermediate between vowels and consonants are called [[semi-vowel]]s (not "semi-consonants").

===Origin===
The word goes back to French ''voyelle'', from Latin ''(littera) vocalis'' 'voice letter' (from ''vox'' 'voice').

===Other languages===
French [[voyelle]] 
German [[Vokal]]

=== Links ===

[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Vowel&lemmacode=122 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics]


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[[Category:Phonetics and phonology]]
[[Category:Articulation]]
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