palatalize
English
Etymology
palatal + -ize
Verb
palatalize (third-person singular simple present palatalizes, present participle palatalizing, simple past and past participle palatalized)
- (phonetics, transitive) To pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate of the mouth when that sound normally would not be so pronounced.
- Most English speakers palatalize the letter t in the word "nature".
- (phonetics, intransitive, unaccusative, of a sound) To be pronounced in such a way.
Related terms
- palatalization