Definition

A variant pronunciation of a single sound in a language, where different sounds can be used in similar contexts without changing the meaning. For example, the different ways to pronounce the letter 't' in 'top' and 'stop' are examples of this concept.

Example

In linguistics, the aspirated 't' in 'top' and the unaspirated 't' in 'stop' are examples of allophones.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term allophone?

Yeah, I think it refers to different sounds of the same letter, right?

Exactly! Like how 't' in 'top' sounds different from 't' in 'stop'.

Exactly! It's fascinating how our language works.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Allophone → It is formed from "allo-" (from Greek "allos", meaning other or different) and "phone" (from Greek "phone", meaning voice or sound). The word "allophone" refers to different sounds or variations of a phoneme in a particular language.

Memory Tip

Think of 'other' ('allo-') sounds ('phone') that represent variations in pronunciation — that's what an allophone is.

Visually Confused Words