[k]→[ʃ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5
Voiceless velar plosive to Voiceless postalveolar fricative
The shift from the velar stop [k] to the postalveolar fricative [ʃ] is a hallmark of palatalization. It occurs when a velar consonant is pulled forward in the mouth by a following front vowel (like [i] or [e]). This shift usually passes through an intermediate affricate stage [tʃ] before deaffricating to [ʃ].
Phonetic Effects
Palatalization, Deaffrication
Language Examples
caballus [k]→cheval [ʃ]— French famously palatalized [k] even before the low vowel [a], creating the 'ch' sound.
cantāre→chanter [ʃ]
*dux- (from *duk)→duša [ʃ]— The First Palatalization of Velars shifted [k] and [x] to palatal/postalveolar sibilants.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
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