Vowel

usgb/ˈvaʊəl/
noun

A sound in spoken language made with the vocal tract open.

The English language has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u
Visual representation of "vowel" - A sound in spoken language made with the vocal tract open

Often appears as...

  • long vowel
  • short vowel
Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "vowel"
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Pronunciation Clarity

Vowels help in clarifying words; without them, speech would be difficult to understand.

Illustration for Pronunciation Clarity
In the word 'hat', the vowel 'a' clarifies the sound.
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Vowel Variations

The same vowel can sound different in various words, known as short and long sounds.

Illustration for Vowel Variations
'A' in 'apple' versus 'A' in 'ace'.
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Stress Importance

Vowels often determine the stressed syllable which affects the pronunciation of words.

Illustration for Stress Importance
The difference in pronunciation between 'REcord' (noun) and 'reCORD' (verb).
Visual representation of the word "Vowel"

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