Definitions

1. noun

A unit of sound in a language that distinguishes one word from another, such as the ‘p’ sound in ‘pat’ and the ‘b’ sound in ‘bat’.

“The linguist studied the phonemes of the language to create a more accurate dictionary.”

2. verb

To pronounce or articulate a phoneme, especially with a distinct or unusual sound.

“The singer phonemed the word ‘hello’ with a French accent, which added to the song’s charm.”

3. noun

A unit of sound in a language that is a distinct sound but is not a phoneme, such as the ‘ng’ sound in ‘sing’.

“The phoneme and allophone distinction is crucial in understanding the sounds of a language.”