semivowel
|sem-i-vow-el|
/ˈsɛmɪvaʊəl/
half-vowel; vowel-like consonant
Etymology
'semivowel' originates from the Latin prefix 'semi-' meaning 'half' combined with English 'vowel', the latter ultimately from Latin 'vocalis' meaning 'voice' or 'speaking'.
'semivowel' was formed in English as a compound of 'semi-' + 'vowel' (appearing in linguistic usage in the 19th century) and has been used in descriptions of speech sounds since then.
Initially it referred to a 'half-vowel' (a sound between vowel and consonant); over time this technical phonetic sense has remained the primary meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sound that is phonetically similar to a vowel but functions as a consonant (e.g., the English sounds /j/ and /w/).
In phonetics, the English sounds /j/ and /w/ are classic examples of semivowels.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/27 04:58