ablaut

Meaning

Noun

The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation, distinct from the phonetic influence of a succeeding vowel.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To undergo a change of vowel.
2. (transitive) To cause to change a vowel.

Synonyms

alternation

gradation

regular expression

swapping

vowel gradation

Translations

Ablaut

apophonie

ετεροίωση

ablaut

apofonia

ετεροποίωση

εναλλαγή

Halbwelle

roulement

alternance

Vokalabstufung

alternation

alternanza

alternarsi

περιτροπή

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɑbˌlaʊt/

Etymology

Borrowed from German Ablaut (“sound gradation”), which is from ab- or ab (“down, off”), + Laut (“sound”). Ab is used here in the sense of “deviating, varying” as in Abgott (“god other than the true God”), Abart (“different sort, variety, anomality”).