Definition

Describing a sound that is made with a strong breath or puff of air, often used in phonetics to refer to certain consonants.

Example

The letter 'p' in 'pat' is aspirated, making it sound stronger than in 'spat'.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how some letters are more aspirated than others?

Yeah, like the 'p' in 'pat' sounds different from the 'p' in 'spat'.

Exactly! The aspirated sounds give words a unique flow.

Right? It's fascinating how pronunciation can change meaning.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To produce a sound with a strong burst of breath, often used in phonetics to describe certain consonants.

Example

In phonetics, the letter 'p' in 'pat' is aspirated, meaning it is pronounced with a strong burst of air.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you notice how he aspirated the letters during his speech?

Yeah, it really made his pronunciation stand out!

I think it helped convey his confidence too.

Root Explanation

Aspirated → It is formed from "aspirare" (from Latin, meaning to breathe) and the suffix "-ed" (indicating a past action or condition). The word "aspirated" refers to a sound that is produced with a strong breath or puff of air, as in certain phonetic pronunciations.

Memory Tip

Think of 'breathing' ('aspirare') out strongly when making a sound — that's why aspirated means a sound made with a strong breath.

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