vowel
Meaning
A speech sound made without any closure or friction in the vocal tract, where the air flows freely.
A letter representing such a sound (in English, typically a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y).
Structure
Usage
The words "cat" and "hope" each contain one vowel sound.
In English, the letter 'y' can function as either a consonant or a vowel.
Singers are often trained to sustain their vowel sounds clearly.
Etymology
The word 'vowel' originates from the Old French vouel, which itself derives from the Latin vocalis (littera), meaning "vocal (letter)." This Latin term stems from vox, meaning "voice," highlighting the fundamental characteristic of vowels as sounds produced by the unimpeded voice. The diminutive suffix '-el' in its journey through French subtly shaped the word into its modern form, 'vowel,' distinguishing it from the broader concept of 'voice.' Thus, etymologically, a vowel is literally a "little voice sound" or a "vocalic element," the core sonic building block of speech.
Analysis
- 'vow': From Latin vox (genitive vocis), meaning "voice, sound, word." - 'el': A diminutive suffix, from Latin -ellus, -ella, -ellum.