Semivowel

In phonetics and phonology, a semivowel is a special sound. It is similar to a vowel sound, but it works a little differently. Instead of being the main sound in a syllable, a semivowel helps connect sounds.

In English, the letters y and w often make semivowel sounds. For example, in the word yes, the y sounds a bit like the ee in seen, and in west, the w sounds a bit like the oo in moon. These sounds are written as /j/ and /w/ in a special writing system called IPA.

Semivowels help us understand how words are pronounced and how sounds fit together when we speak.

Classification

Semivowels are special sounds that are like vowels but help connect syllables. They are part of a group called approximants. But not all approximants are semivowels, and experts may not always agree on what is a semivowel.

In the International Phonetic Alphabet, a system for writing sounds, semivowels are shown with a special mark under the vowel symbol. If there is not enough space, the mark can go above instead. Before 1989, a different mark was used.

There are special symbols for four common semivowels that match some vowel sounds.

Some experts think other sounds, like certain rhotic sounds, a pharyngeal sound, and some post-palatal sounds, might also be semivowels.

Contrast with vowels

Semivowels are different from vowels because they are not the main sound in a syllable. They are also usually shorter than vowels. In some languages like Amharic, Yoruba, and Zuni, semivowels are made with a tighter shape in the mouth than their vowel sounds.

Sometimes, a semivowel can sound like a vowel in a word. For example, in the English word fly, you can think of it as ending in a special sound that is like a vowel or as ending in a consonant followed by a vowel sound.

Contrast with fricatives and spirant approximants

Main article: Spirant approximant

Semivowels are special sounds like vowels but they work in a different way. They help join parts of words instead of being the main sound in a word. For example, in English, the letters y and w act like semivowels in words such as yes and west. These sounds are written with special symbols used by language experts.