Definition

A change in the sounds of a word that shows different grammatical forms, often used in inflection.

Example

In English, the word 'man' changes to 'men' to show plural, which is an example of apophony.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term apophony?

No, I haven't. What does it mean?

It's when the sounds in a word change to show different grammatical forms, like in inflections.

That sounds interesting! I love learning new language concepts.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Apophony is formed from "apo-" (meaning away from) and "phone" (from Greek "phōnē", meaning voice or sound). The term refers to a change in the form of a word that alters its sound, often used in linguistic contexts to describe vowel alternations.

Memory Tip

Think of 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and 'phone' meaning 'sound' — this helps you remember that apophony refers to a change in sound.

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