anlaut

[ ahn-lout ]
/ ˈɑnˌlaʊt /

noun, plural an·lau·te [ahn-lou-tuh] /ˈɑnˌlaʊ tə/, an·lauts. Linguistics.

initial position in a word, especially as a conditioning environment in sound change.
a sound in this position.
Compare auslaut, inlaut.

Origin of anlaut

1880–85; < German, equivalent to an- on + Laut sound, as noun derivative of anlauten to begin (with a given sound)