The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [p] → [u] Edit this Data

[u]→[p]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 1/5

Close back rounded vowel to Voiceless bilabial plosive

The transformation of the high back rounded vowel [u] into the voiceless bilabial stop [p] is a rare form of fortition (strengthening), typically occurring via an intermediate labial glide [w] and subsequent consonantalization.

Phonetic Effects

Fortition, Consonantalization, Labialization

Language Examples

Historical rounded vowels [u, o]→[p, b, m, v]— Documented gradual shift of rounded vowels to labial approximants and then to bilabial consonants.

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