vowel

noun

vow·​el ˈvau̇(-ə)l 

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

Examples of vowel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At Taylor Leadership Academy in south Stockton, every vowel and consonant is helping students become stronger readers. —Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026

Melody tends to override cadence and intonation, flattening vowel sounds into whatever the tune demands. —Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026

But when referring to the whole company that makes the third leg of the Detroit Three automakers, there is still a lack of consensus over that pesky vowel in the middle. —Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026

The endless vowels of their surnames—Ruuttu, Saarinen, Ruotsalainen—sail through his mind like a song. —Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vowel

• great vowel shift
• vowel point
• vowel rhyme

Rhymes for vowel

• bowel
• dowel
• howel
• howell
• towel
• avowal
• disavowal

Video

The Schwa

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

Kids Definition

vowel

noun

vow·​el ˈvau̇(-ə)l 

1

: a speech sound produced without obstruction or audible friction in the mouth

2

: a letter (as a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y) representing a vowel