palatalize

American  

[pal-uh-tl-ahyz] / ˈpæl ə tlˌaɪz /

especially British, palatalise

verb (used with object)

palatalized, palatalizing

1. to articulate (a consonant other than a normal palatal) as a palatal or with relatively more contact between the blade of the tongue and the hard palate, as in certain pronunciations of the l- sound in million.

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verb (used without object)

palatalized, palatalizing

1. (of a consonant) to undergo palatalization.

palatalize British  

/ ˈpælətəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to pronounce (a speech sound) with the blade of the tongue touching the palate

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Other Word Forms

• nonpalatalization
  noun
• palatalization
  noun

Etymology

Origin of palatalize

First recorded in 1865–70; palatal + -ize