Vowels {vowel}| typically begin at vocal cords. Vowels can have tongue highest part in front or back, mouth open or closed, and lips round or spread out. Vowels have distinguishing acoustic properties {vowel quality}. Spanish and many languages have only five vowels: ah = a, ay = é, ee = i, oo = u, and oh = o.
Inserted vowels {connecting vowel} can make pronunciation easier.
Eleven vowels {pure vowel} always sound the same, in all syllables. Five vowels {diphthong, vowel} sound different in different syllables.
Consonants can be vowel-like. w and y {semivowel} {semi-vowel} are not equivalent to full vowels.
Indistinct vowels {shwa} {neutral vowel} have upside-down e sign. A Hebrew sign {mobile shwa} indicates upside down e sound. A Hebrew sign {latent shwa} indicates no vowel sound.
Vowels can resonate {sonorous} {twang}| or have nasal sound.
Vocal-cord vibration {voiced} makes vowels. Consonants are typically voiceless.
In Hebrew and Arabic, marks {vowel point} below or near consonants indicate which vowel to use.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225