ablaut
1 synonym for ablaut, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Ablaut is a pattern in which a word's root vowel changes to mark a related shift in meaning or grammatical function.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use ablaut
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
vowel ablaut
ablaut pattern
ablaut series
undergo ablaut
A technical term confined to linguistics and the study of phonology.
Etymology
The word was borrowed from German Ablaut, meaning sound gradation, which combines ab-, in the sense of varying or deviating, with Laut, meaning sound.
Full origin of ablaut →Frequently asked questions
What does ablaut mean in linguistics?
It describes the substitution of one vowel for another within a word's root, marking a related change in meaning or grammatical form.
Is ablaut the same as umlaut?
No, they are related terms for vowel change but refer to different processes, and umlaut is listed as a related rather than identical term.
When did the term ablaut start being used in English?
It entered English usage in the mid-19th century, borrowed directly from German.
