[w]→[o]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5
Voiced labio-velar approximant to Close-mid back rounded vowel
The transformation of the voiced labio-velar approximant /w/ into the close-mid back rounded vowel /o/ is a natural phonetic shift observed in various languages. This change, often termed vocalization or vowelization, occurs when the consonantal constriction of /w/ weakens, allowing its inherent vocalic qualities—specifically its labial and velar articulation, which contribute to backness and rounding—to become fully realized as a vowel. Such shifts are typically conditioned by specific phonetic environments, such as occurring before consonants or as part of broader lenition processes.
Phonetic Effects
Vocalization, Vowelization, Lenition, Rounding, Backing
Language Examples
w→o— Certain stems ending in /w/ change to /o/ before a suffix consisting of a glottal stop.
w→o— In Štokavian dialects, as part of a lenition chain where word-final /l/ weakens to /w/ and then vocalizes to /o/.
Related Transformations
More Lenition Shifts
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