Ablaut

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈɑbËŒlaÊŠt/, /ˈɑpËŒlaÊŠt/, /ˈæbËŒlaÊŠt/

Origin

From German Ablaut ("off-sound"), from ab ("off"), + Laut ("sound").

Full definition of ablaut

Noun

1. (linguistics) The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, and got; sing and song; hang and hung, distinct from the phonetic influence of a succeeding vowel. Mid 19^th century.

Synonyms

• gradation, alternation, apophony

Derived terms

• ablauting

Verb

1. (intransitive, linguistics, of a vowel-containing linguistic component) To undergo a change of vowel.
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2. (transitive, linguistics) To cause to change a vowel.