Close vowel

Close vowel
IPA vowel chart
Front Near-​front Central Near-​back Back
Close
Blank vowel trapezoid.svg
iy
ɨʉ
ɯu
ɪʏ
ʊ
eø
ɘɵ
ɤo
ɛœ
ɜɞ
ʌɔ
æ
aɶ
ä
ɑɒ
Near-close
Close-mid
Mid
Open-mid
Near-open
Open
Paired vowels are: unrounded • rounded
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A close vowel is a type of vowel sound used in many spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a close vowel is that the tongue is positioned as close as possible to the roof of the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant.

This term is prescribed by the International Phonetic Association. Close vowels are often referred to as high vowels, as in the Americanist phonetic tradition, because the tongue is positioned high in the mouth during the articulation of a close vowel.

The six close vowels identified within the International Phonetic Alphabet are:

In the context of the phonology of any particular language, a high vowel can be any vowel that is more close than a mid vowel. That is, close-mid vowels, near-close vowels, and close vowels can all be considered high vowels.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Close vowel — Close Close (kl[=o]s), a. [Compar. {Closer} (kl[=o] s[ e]r); superl. {Closest}.] [Of. & F. clos, p. p. of clore. See {Close}, v. t.] 1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box. [1913 Webster] From a close bower this dainty music flowed. Dryden …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Close vowel — Vowel Vow el, n. [F. voyelle, or an OF. form without y, L. vocalis (sc. littera), from vocalis sounding, from vox, vocis, a voice, sound. See {Vocal}.] (Phon.) A vocal, or sometimes a whispered, sound modified by resonance in the oral passage,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • close vowel — UK [ˌkləʊs ˈvaʊəl] US [ˌkloʊs ˈvaʊəl] noun [countable] [singular close vowel plural close vowels] linguistics a vowel sound made with your tongue near the top of your mouth …   Useful english dictionary

  • close vowel — UK [ˌkləʊs ˈvaʊəl] / US [ˌkloʊs ˈvaʊəl] noun [countable] Word forms close vowel : singular close vowel plural close vowels linguistics a vowel sound made with your tongue near the top of your mouth …   English dictionary

  • close vowel — close vow|el [ ,klous vauəl ] noun count LINGUISTICS a vowel sound made with your tongue moved near the top of your mouth …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Near-close vowel — IPA vowel chart Front Near ​front Central Near ​back …   Wikipedia

  • Close front rounded vowel — y Image …   Wikipedia

  • Close-mid central rounded vowel — ɵ Image …   Wikipedia

  • Close-mid central unrounded vowel — ɘ Image …   Wikipedia

  • Close-mid front unrounded vowel — e Image …   Wikipedia

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