Definition

A sound unit in some languages that changes the meaning of a word based on pitch or tone.

Example

In Mandarin, the meaning of a word can change completely depending on the toneme used.

Conversation

Have you ever studied how a toneme can change the meaning of a word?

Yeah, it's pretty fascinating how tones can affect language.

I read that some languages rely heavily on tonemes for communication.

Exactly! It must be challenging to learn those languages.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Toneme** → It is formed from "tone" (from Greek *tonos*, meaning tone or tension) and "-eme" (from Greek *-ēma*, meaning a unit or element). The word "toneme" refers to a unit of tone in a language that can change meaning.

Memory Tip

Think of 'tone' as the sound quality and '-eme' as a unit, so a toneme is a unit of sound that can change meaning.

Visually Confused Words