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Semi-Voyelles
Semi-vowels, aka semi-consonants, are sounds pronounced somewhere between vowels and consonants. (Très logique, n’est-ce pas ?) They’re created by partially obstructing the passage of air through the mouth, and can also be called glides or approximants.
French has three semi-vowels, each of which corresponds phonetically to a normal, "pure" vowel – click for examples with sound files.
| Semi-vowel | Corresponding vowel | |
| 1. | [j] | [i] |
| 2. | [w] | [u] |
| 3. | [ɥ] | [y] |
Characteristics of a semi-vowel
- Phonetically equivalent to a pure vowel
- Creates a diphthong with the vowel it precedes or follows
- Cannot be a syllable on its own
See IPA – vowels for details on how to pronounce and spell these sounds.
Related lessons
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