semivowel

[ sem-ee-vou-uh l ]
/ ˈsɛm iˌvaʊ əl /

noun

Phonetics. a speech sound of vowel quality used as a consonant, as (w) in wet or (y) in yet.

Origin of semivowel

1520–30; semi- + vowel; replacing semivocal < Latin sēmivocālis half vowel

Words nearby semivowel

semitropical, semitruck, semivegetarian, semivitreous, semivocal, semivowel, semiweekly, semiyearly, semmelweis, semmelweiss, semmes

Example sentences from the Web for semivowel

British Dictionary definitions for semivowel

semivowel
/ (ˈsɛmɪˌvaʊəl) /

noun phonetics

a vowel-like sound that acts like a consonant, in that it serves the same function in a syllable carrying the same amount of prominence as a consonant relative to a true vowel, the nucleus of the syllable. In English and many other languages the chief semivowels are (w) in well and (j), represented as y, in yell
a frictionless continuant classified as one of the liquids; (l) or (r)
Also called (US and Canadian): glide