Words / A2

VOW-uh-l/ˈvaʊəl/

A vowel is a sound written with a, e, i, o, or u (and sometimes y): a short vowel, count the vowels, vowel sound. Consonant is the other type of letter (b, t, s…). Syllable is a beat in a word. Do not write bowel (body) for vowel — different first sound. The is pronounced differently before a vowel sound (an apple).

Meaning

A speech sound written with the letters a, e, i, o, or u.

Examples

• “The word cat has one vowel.”
• “Circle the vowels in each new headword.”
• “The word queue has more vowels than you first notice.”

Good to know

a, e, i, o, u (sometimes y). Opposite type: consonant. Related: syllable, an + vowel sound.

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