Phonetic

usgb/fəˈnetɪk/
adjective

It relates to the sounds in a language.

Each letter in the phonetic alphabet represents a different sound
Visual representation of "phonetic" - It relates to the sounds in a language

Often appears as...

  • phonetic alphabet
  • phonetic transcription

Usage tips

Academic

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "phonetic"
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Language Sounds

Helps distinguish subtle sound differences between similar words to improve pronunciation and understanding.

Illustration for Language Sounds
The phonetic guide showed that 'thought' and 'taught' sound different.
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Alphabet Variations

Not all phonetic alphabets are the same; different languages use different symbols for their sounds.

Illustration for Alphabet Variations
She learned the phonetic alphabet specific to French.
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Sound Representation

Phonetic symbols may represent sounds not available as regular letters in your language.

Illustration for Sound Representation
The phonetic symbol /θ/ represents the 'th' sound in English.
Visual representation of the word "Phonetic"

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