Main Entry: pal·a·tal

Pronunciation: \ˈpa-lə-t^əl\

Function: adjective

Date: 1668

1 a : formed with some part of the tongue near or touching the hard palate posterior to the teethridge <the \sh\ and \y\ in English and the \ḵ\ of ich \iḵ\ in German are examples of palatal consonants> b of a vowel : front 2
2 : of, relating to, forming, or affecting the palate

— palatal noun

— pal·a·tal·ly \-t^əl-ē\ adverb