Vowel
noun
A sound in spoken language made with the vocal tract open.
The English language has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Often appears as...
- long vowel
- short vowel
noun
A letter representing a vowel sound in the alphabet.
The first vowel of the English alphabet is 'a'
Often appears as...
- vowel letter
- vowel shift
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A sound in spoken language made with the vocal tract open.
The English language has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Often appears as...
- long vowel
- short vowel
noun
A letter representing a vowel sound in the alphabet.
The first vowel of the English alphabet is 'a'
Often appears as...
- vowel letter
- vowel shift
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Pronunciation Clarity
Vowels help in clarifying words; without them, speech would be difficult to understand.
In the word 'hat', the vowel 'a' clarifies the sound.
Pro Tip 2/3Vowel Variations
The same vowel can sound different in various words, known as short and long sounds.
'A' in 'apple' versus 'A' in 'ace'.
Pro Tip 3/3Stress Importance
Vowels often determine the stressed syllable which affects the pronunciation of words.
The difference in pronunciation between 'REcord' (noun) and 'reCORD' (verb).
Pro Tip 1/3Pronunciation Clarity
Vowels help in clarifying words; without them, speech would be difficult to understand.
In the word 'hat', the vowel 'a' clarifies the sound.
Pro Tip 2/3Vowel Variations
The same vowel can sound different in various words, known as short and long sounds.
'A' in 'apple' versus 'A' in 'ace'.
Pro Tip 3/3Stress Importance
Vowels often determine the stressed syllable which affects the pronunciation of words.
The difference in pronunciation between 'REcord' (noun) and 'reCORD' (verb).
Pro Tip 1/3Pronunciation Clarity
Vowels help in clarifying words; without them, speech would be difficult to understand.
In the word 'hat', the vowel 'a' clarifies the sound.
Pro Tip 2/3Vowel Variations
The same vowel can sound different in various words, known as short and long sounds.
'A' in 'apple' versus 'A' in 'ace'.
Pro Tip 3/3Stress Importance
Vowels often determine the stressed syllable which affects the pronunciation of words.
The difference in pronunciation between 'REcord' (noun) and 'reCORD' (verb).
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Video examples
Crystal Rasmussen: A...
Drag continued this way for a while, until the barrier between the mirror and the real world faded away. I had admitted my most shameful desires to the world, and somewhere in some pockets of some worlds that I never knew existed, she was adored. So I started to drop my vowels more. I started to talk about Lancaster more.
Video examples
"Interpassion" /...
You are my -- I love people. I think it's great we're all hugging here, as we mix our vowels, and we make the saddle. I appreciate less the consonants of those we haven't sounded. I'm pressing the buzzer; I am interpassionate. Interpassion,
Video examples
The race to decode a...
However, he did make two accurate the tablets were administrative records, and the script was a syllabary, where each symbol represented both a consonant and a vowel, mixed with characters that each represented a whole word.
Video examples
The Greatest Sled Dog -...
comes about out of her their grandchildren her sons daughters here's a wonderful dog and now that she's passed I really want to honor her with this because she always used to loves to just ride up on this vowel right here
Video examples
Baboon Parenting PIPE Wild...
impressive repertoire of language have been recently found to use up to five vowel sounds this puts per Boone's up there is one of the most advanced animal linguists known to science their tongues also contain the same
Video examples
"First Kiss" by Tim...
packed with canaries driven by a toucan—I swear those lips said bright wings when we kissed, wild and precise—as if she were teaching a seahorse to speak— her mouth so careful, chumming the first vowel from my throat
Video examples
The Resistance PIPE Think...
The leader has green eyes. If the leader has red hair, their name has at least one consecutive double letter. If the leader wear glasses, their name has exactly 2 vowels. Otherwise, their name has exactly 3 vowels.
Video examples
Dancing Birds of...
isolated in separate vowels today there are many different kinds among them some of the most spectacular birds in the world they're the birds of paradise this tiny jewel is the king bird of paradise the
Video examples
Robert Neuwirth: The...
— no intellectual property, right? Versace without the vowels. Zhuomani instead of Armani. S. Guuuci, and -- All around the world this is how products are being distributed, so, for instance,
Video examples
Learning a new language...
caused by my pronunciation of the nasalized diphthongs and vowels such as L and in my first Portuguese teacher said that my initial attempts of
Video examples
Crystal Rasmussen: A...
Drag continued this way for a while, until the barrier between the mirror and the real world faded away. I had admitted my most shameful desires to the world, and somewhere in some pockets of some worlds that I never knew existed, she was adored. So I started to drop my vowels more. I started to talk about Lancaster more.
Video examples
"Interpassion" /...
You are my -- I love people. I think it's great we're all hugging here, as we mix our vowels, and we make the saddle. I appreciate less the consonants of those we haven't sounded. I'm pressing the buzzer; I am interpassionate. Interpassion,
Video examples
The race to decode a...
However, he did make two accurate the tablets were administrative records, and the script was a syllabary, where each symbol represented both a consonant and a vowel, mixed with characters that each represented a whole word.
Video examples
The Greatest Sled Dog -...
comes about out of her their grandchildren her sons daughters here's a wonderful dog and now that she's passed I really want to honor her with this because she always used to loves to just ride up on this vowel right here
Video examples
Baboon Parenting PIPE Wild...
impressive repertoire of language have been recently found to use up to five vowel sounds this puts per Boone's up there is one of the most advanced animal linguists known to science their tongues also contain the same
Video examples
"First Kiss" by Tim...
packed with canaries driven by a toucan—I swear those lips said bright wings when we kissed, wild and precise—as if she were teaching a seahorse to speak— her mouth so careful, chumming the first vowel from my throat
Video examples
The Resistance PIPE Think...
The leader has green eyes. If the leader has red hair, their name has at least one consecutive double letter. If the leader wear glasses, their name has exactly 2 vowels. Otherwise, their name has exactly 3 vowels.
Video examples
Dancing Birds of...
isolated in separate vowels today there are many different kinds among them some of the most spectacular birds in the world they're the birds of paradise this tiny jewel is the king bird of paradise the
Video examples
Robert Neuwirth: The...
— no intellectual property, right? Versace without the vowels. Zhuomani instead of Armani. S. Guuuci, and -- All around the world this is how products are being distributed, so, for instance,
Video examples
Learning a new language...
caused by my pronunciation of the nasalized diphthongs and vowels such as L and in my first Portuguese teacher said that my initial attempts of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Marcello Giordani
Italian Musician
When you're insecure about your technique, you close yourself off. Your shoulders tighten. The first thing, you should open your body and sing. Be happy. Sing real vowels, real Italian vowels. When you're learning a good way to sing technically, you find it's very easy to sing well.
Quote examples
Conor Oberst
American Musician
My favorite rhymes are sort of half-rhymes where you might just get the vowel sound the same, but it's not really a true rhyme. That gives you far more flexibility to capture the feeling you're trying to express. But sometimes it's best not to have any rhyme.
Quote examples
David Longstreth
American Musician
When you make a melody that doesn't come with words from the get-go, sometimes you're just thinking about random vowel sounds that go with it - and it's really, really hard to write lyrics that actually obey the vowel sounds.
Quote examples
Bryson Tiller
American Musician
Maybe I was just born with a little bit of vocals or natural talent, but I feel like I taught myself. I just started taking vocal lessons to just work on my breathing, my vowels and stuff.
Quote examples
Pete Gallego
American Politician
The fact that I am Latino is not a secret. There's not much I can do about that. It is what it is. I think people know that my last name ends in a vowel. What can I tell you?
Quote examples
Temple Grandin
American Educator
Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.
Quote examples
Rodney Crowell
Algerian Musician
There are certain choices you make as a songwriter, based on vowel sounds and melody and chord changes.
Quote examples
Sonya Walger
English Actress
I have a dialogue coach who helps me out with some of the more tricky Chicago vowel sounds.
Quote examples
Duke Ellington
American Musician
Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.
Quote examples
Enzo Amore
American Musician
The only vowel I'm concerned with is 'I.
Quote examples
Marcello Giordani
Italian Musician
When you're insecure about your technique, you close yourself off. Your shoulders tighten. The first thing, you should open your body and sing. Be happy. Sing real vowels, real Italian vowels. When you're learning a good way to sing technically, you find it's very easy to sing well.
Quote examples
Conor Oberst
American Musician
My favorite rhymes are sort of half-rhymes where you might just get the vowel sound the same, but it's not really a true rhyme. That gives you far more flexibility to capture the feeling you're trying to express. But sometimes it's best not to have any rhyme.
Quote examples
David Longstreth
American Musician
When you make a melody that doesn't come with words from the get-go, sometimes you're just thinking about random vowel sounds that go with it - and it's really, really hard to write lyrics that actually obey the vowel sounds.
Quote examples
Bryson Tiller
American Musician
Maybe I was just born with a little bit of vocals or natural talent, but I feel like I taught myself. I just started taking vocal lessons to just work on my breathing, my vowels and stuff.
Quote examples
Pete Gallego
American Politician
The fact that I am Latino is not a secret. There's not much I can do about that. It is what it is. I think people know that my last name ends in a vowel. What can I tell you?
Quote examples
Temple Grandin
American Educator
Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.
Quote examples
Rodney Crowell
Algerian Musician
There are certain choices you make as a songwriter, based on vowel sounds and melody and chord changes.
Quote examples
Sonya Walger
English Actress
I have a dialogue coach who helps me out with some of the more tricky Chicago vowel sounds.
Quote examples
Duke Ellington
American Musician
Playing 'bop' is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.
Quote examples
Enzo Amore
American Musician
The only vowel I'm concerned with is 'I.
Example 1 of 10
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