Alternative form of wordinitial. [(linguistics) Occurring at the beginning of a word.]
Used in a Sentence
word-initial
Definition, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for word-initial.
Editorial note
For example, /k/ is aspirated in word-initial position in words like cam but unaspirated after word-initial /s/ in words like scam.
Examples13
Definitions1
Parts of speech1
Quick take
Alternative form of wordinitial. [(linguistics) Occurring at the beginning of a word.]
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of word-initial gathered in one view.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for word-initial.
adjective
Alternative form of wordinitial. [(linguistics) Occurring at the beginning of a word.]
Example sentences
For example, /k/ is aspirated in word-initial position in words like cam but unaspirated after word-initial /s/ in words like scam.
Kn in word-initial position is fairly common, and the k is not silent in these languages, nor is there an aspiration between k and n.
Nit: pokatokaino is unlikely to be Japanese, since word-initial p has morphed into h during the centuries.
One of the languages I know allows for a word-initial /ŋ/, which English does not have at all.
One benefit that _they_ has over _e_ is that it is distinguishable from _he_ in those variants that tend to drop word-initial _h_.
Also, if we are talking about aspiration, word-initial p and t are also left un-aspirated in Polish, contrary to many (most?) English dialects.
Oh wait but isn't [pʰ] word-initial only anyway?
I don't speak Korean, but from hearing it I get the impression that it's more complicated than that: Korean word-initial nasals vary randomly in their nasality.
>/ʒ/ does not occur in word-initial position in English Doesn't gendarme start with /ʒ/?
/ʒ/ does not occur in word-initial position in English, and for whatever reason it was incredibly hard for me to perceive it there.
Additionally, word-initial single G before short I is always [g] instead of [dʒ] in native English: gift girl give gibbon gimlet gizzard gilded git gimp giddy gig gimbal.
> /ʒ/ does not occur in word-initial position in English I never noticed that until now.
Quote examples
That is interesting, I can’t think how else to pronounce the word-initial “t”s in something like “Tu jest carrefour, a tu jest kurwa jeż” (a phrase that has entered the canon of my friend group) any other way, I wonder if I’m already saying it unaspirated.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use word-initial in a sentence?
For example, /k/ is aspirated in word-initial position in words like cam but unaspirated after word-initial /s/ in words like scam.
What does word-initial mean?
Alternative form of wordinitial. [(linguistics) Occurring at the beginning of a word.]
What part of speech is word-initial?
word-initial is commonly used as adjective.