spiritus lenis

[spir-i-tuhs lee-nis, spee-ri-toos ley-nis]

noun

1. smooth breathing.

spiritus lenis

noun

1. another term for smooth breathing

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritus lenis¹

From Late Latin spīritus lēnis

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritus lenis¹

Latin: gentle breath

Example Sentences

The modern Cubans pronounce it like the English w with the spiritus lenis.

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With a normal attack—the spiritus lenis in contradistinction to the spiritus asper—the glottis is in position for phonation at the moment breath passes through it.

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If the phrase that is to be sung commences with a word beginning with an initial vowel, care must be taken to employ the normal coup de glotte, or spiritus lenis.

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The ‛ is a very distinct sound in Arabic, but is more nearly represented by the spiritus lenis than by any sound that we can produce without much special training.

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