The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [g] → [w] Edit this Data

[w]→[g]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5

Voiced labio-velar approximant to Voiced velar plosive

The strengthening of the labio-velar glide [w] into a voiced velar stop [ɡ] is a well-documented fortition process. In Western Romance, Germanic *w was typically adapted as [ɡw] and subsequently simplified to [ɡ] in French, while other languages retained the labial component or shifted to [v].

Phonetic Effects

Fortition

Language Examples

*werra→guerre— Germanic *w adopted as [gw] then simplified to [g].

Related Transformations

More Romance Shifts

Sources & References

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