retroflexing
|re-tro-flex-ing|
/ˌrɛtrəˈflɛks/
(retroflex)
tongue curled back
Etymology
'retroflex' originates from Latin-derived elements: the prefix 'retro-' meaning 'backward' and 'flex' (from Latin 'flectere' / past participle 'flexus') meaning 'to bend'; combined in modern formation to describe something 'bent back'.
'retroflex' was formed in New Latin/Modern Latin (e.g. 'retroflexus') and was adopted into English in the 19th century for anatomical description (bent back) and later extended to phonetics to describe sounds made with the tongue bent back.
Initially it meant 'bent backward' in anatomical contexts; over time it came to be used in phonetics for the specific articulatory gesture of curling the tongue back, giving the modern sense related to certain consonant sounds.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of producing a retroflex sound; the state of being retroflexed (a gerundial noun use of 'retroflex').
Retroflexing is common in several languages of South Asia.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
present participle of 'retroflex'; producing or performing a retroflex articulation by curling the tip of the tongue back toward the palate.
The linguist demonstrated retroflexing of the consonant to show how the tongue tip curls back.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 03:28