Definition

Relating to a variation of a sound in a language that does not change the meaning of a word.

Example

The allophonic variations of the phoneme can change the meaning of words in some languages.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term allophonic?

Yeah, I think it relates to how sounds change in different contexts, right?

Exactly! It’s interesting how one sound can have allophonic variations.

Totally! It really shows how rich and complex language can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Allophonic → It is formed from "allo-" (from Greek "allos", meaning other or different) and "phonic" (from Greek "phonē", meaning voice or sound). The word "allophonic" refers to variations in sound that are different from the standard or typical pronunciation of a phoneme.

Memory Tip

Think of 'other' ('allo-') sounds or variations in pronunciation ('phonic') — that's what allophonic means.

Visually Confused Words