vowel

noun vow·el \ ˈvau̇(-ə)l \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

1 : one of a class of speech sounds in the articulation of which the oral part of the breath channel is not blocked and is not constricted enough to cause audible friction; broadly : the one most prominent sound in a syllable

2 : a letter or other symbol representing a vowel —usually used in English of a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y

See vowel defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of vowel from the Web

And a vowel followed by two consonants added a final 30 milliseconds.

— catherine matacic, Science | AAAS, "If you listen closely, the drumbeats of Amazonian tribes sound like human speech," 24 Apr. 2018
The airline worker in turn says there are too many vowels in his name, and compares him to a mob piece.

— pamela mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, "Studio Drama, Big Risks and Cher: What Mattered at CinemaCon This Year," 27 Apr. 2018
The sole actor who has unwavering command of a Wisconsin accent is Ms. Wieland, whose Bree is a magnificent creature: all broad, nasal vowels and adolescent angst.

— laura collins-hughes, New York Times, "Review: ‘Breitwisch Farm’ Brings Chekhov to Wisconsin," 11 Mar. 2018
In the 1990s, popular names like Ashley and Amanda brought these vowel sounds into our consciousness.

— kaitlin menza, Redbook, "Here's Why Every Baby Girl You Know Has a Name Starting With "E"," 6 Feb. 2017
Unless someone has luggage at their feet or pinches their vowels, good luck deciphering their provenance.

— andrea sachs, chicagotribune.com, "Finding your religion at the Line, a new D.C. hotel in a former church," 5 Mar. 2018
Wade, 43, speaks at a moderate pace in an accent rooted in Indianapolis but with vowels that sometimes pull toward a Southern drawl.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "A teacher shot heroin 500 days in a row. His passion for theater helped him get clean.," 28 Feb. 2018
In his stead was a true freshman, Tua Tagovailoa, a native of Hawaii, who hadn't taken a meaningful snap all season and clearly had no need to buy a vowel before spinning his personal Wheel of Fortune.

— bill livingston, cleveland.com, "2018 College Football Playoff: Nick Saban, the 'new' Bear, and Alabama triumph -- Bill Livingston," 9 Jan. 2018
Is knowing how to count to 100 and identify vowels enough to set a 4-year-old on a path to educational success?

— suzanne bouffard, The Atlantic, "The Weighted Task of Pre-K Teaching," 5 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vowel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vowel

Middle English, from Anglo-French vowele, from Latin vocalis — more at vocalic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

VOWEL Defined for English Language Learners

vowel

noun

: a speech sound made with your mouth open and your tongue in the middle of your mouth not touching your teeth, lips, etc.
: a letter (such as a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y in English) that represents a vowel