Semivowel

This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

In phonetics and phonology, a semivowel, glide or semiconsonant is a sound that is phonetically similar to a vowel sound but functions as the syllable boundary, rather than as the nucleus of a syllable.^[1] Examples of semivowels in English are y and w in yes and west, respectively. Written /j w/ in IPA, y and w are near to the vowels ee and oo in seen and moon, written /iː uː/ in IPA. The term glide may alternatively refer to any type of transitional sound, not necessarily a semivowel.^[2]

^ Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996), p. 322.
^ Crystal (2008), p. 211.

[FOOTNOTELadefogedMaddieson1996322-1] Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996), p. 322.

[FOOTNOTECrystal2008211-2] Crystal (2008), p. 211.

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