semivowel

[ sem-ee-vou-uhl ]

noun

1. Phonetics. a speech sound of vowel quality used as a consonant, as (w) in wet or (y) in yet.

semivowel

/ ˈsɛmɪˌvaʊəl /

noun

1. a vowel-like sound that acts like a consonant, in that it serves the same function in a syllable carrying the same amount of prominence as a consonant relative to a true vowel, the nucleus of the syllable. In English and many other languages the chief semivowels are (w) in well and (j), represented as y, in yell
2. a frictionless continuant classified as one of the liquids; (l) or (r)

Word History and Origins

Origin of semivowel¹

1520–30; semi- + vowel; replacing semivocal < Latin sēmivocālis half vowel

Example Sentences

It should be noted that the Dictionarium, which was written contemporaniously, does use y for the semivowel.

From Project Gutenberg

The diphthong oi is the vowel o modified, plus the semivowel y (not the vowel i) modified.

From Project Gutenberg

It has taken the allied sound of the semivowel y, and so, with the preceding vowel, constitutes a diphthong.

From Project Gutenberg

In roi it is the semivowel allied to series p; in oil it is the semivowel allied to series k.

From Project Gutenberg

Effect of the semivowel y on certain letters when they precede it.

From Project Gutenberg