Dictionary

spirant en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈspaɪəɹənt/ (UK)
• /ˈspaɪɹənt/ (US)

Etymology

From Latin spirans, present participle of spīrō (“to blow”). Compare inspire, expire, respiration, etc.

Meanings

1. (dated) A non-sibilant fricative.
   • Spirant consonants are those in which the mouth passage is simply narrowed without any actual contact. 1888, Joseph Wright, An Old High German Primer:
   • The raising of the stem indicated the opening of the consonant to a ‘spirant’ […] 1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E:

Forms

Deriveds

spirantize · spirantization · spirant mutation

Synonyms

fricative

Translations (3)

cy cytsain grech (alt term for fricative) · fi spirantti (alt term for fricative) · es espirante (alt term for fricative)