The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [h] → [kʰ] Edit this Data

[kʰ]→[h]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5

Voiceless aspirated velar plosive to Voiceless glottal fricative

Debuccalization of the voiceless aspirated velar stop [kʰ] to the glottal fricative [h] is a common end-stage in many lenition chains, notably in the development of the Germanic languages.

Phonetic Effects

Debuccalization

Language Examples

k→h— Grimm's Law final stage: PIE *k > kʰ > x > h (e.g. PIE *kmtom > English hundred).

Related Transformations

More Germanic Shifts

Sources & References

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