Pronunciation: /ˈpælətəl/

Definitions of palatal

noun a palatal consonant, which is produced by raising the back of the tongue against the hard palate

Example Sentences

A1 I learned about palatals in my beginner English class.

A2 The palatal is the part of the mouth that helps produce certain sounds.

B1 The palatal plays a crucial role in pronunciation for many languages.

B2 Understanding palatals can greatly improve your language skills.

C1 Linguists study the palatal to better understand phonetics and phonology.

C2 The intricate nature of palatals makes them a fascinating subject for research.

adjective relating to the palate, or the roof of the mouth

Example Sentences

A1 The palatal taste of the ice cream was very refreshing.

A2 She struggled to pronounce the palatal sounds in the new language.

B1 The chef used palatal herbs to enhance the flavor of the dish.

B2 The palatal consonants in the Slavic language can be challenging for English speakers.

C1 The wine connoisseur could detect the subtle palatal notes in the aged wine.

C2 The pianist's performance was praised for its palatal sensitivity and expression.

Examples of palatal in a Sentence

formal The palatal consonants are produced by raising the middle of the tongue towards the hard palate.

informal She couldn't pronounce the palatal sounds correctly in the new language she was learning.

slang I have a palatal lisp that makes me sound like I have a stuffy nose.

figurative The palatal tones of the piano filled the room with a sense of tranquility.

Grammatical Forms of palatal

past tense

palated

plural

palatals

comparative

more palatal

superlative

most palatal

present tense

palates

future tense

will palate

perfect tense

have palated

continuous tense

is palating

singular

palatal

positive degree

palatal

infinitive

to palate

gerund

palating

participle

palated

Origin and Evolution of palatal

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'palatal' comes from the Latin word 'palatum', which means palate.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in anatomy to refer to the roof of the mouth, the term 'palatal' evolved to also describe sounds produced by raising the tongue towards the hard palate in phonetics.