vogal
1. A speech sound that is produced by comparatively open configuration of the vocal tract, with vibration of the vocal cords but without audible friction
The letter 'a' is a vowel in English.
A letra 'a' é uma vogal em inglês.
2. A letter representing such a sound, typically a, e, i, o, u in English
In the word 'hello', the vowels are 'e' and 'o'.
Na palavra 'olá', as vogais são 'o' e 'a'.
3. The fundamental unit of sound in speech that carries tone and resonance
Vowels are essential for the musicality of language.
As vogais são essenciais para a musicalidade da linguagem.
The concept of vowels is fundamental to teaching literacy in both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries. In Brazilian schools, children learn the five main vowels (a, e, i, o, u) as foundational elements of reading and writing instruction, similar to English-speaking countries, though Portuguese includes nasal vowels that English does not have.
Related Idioms & Phrases
vowel shift - a systematic change in the pronunciation of vowels over time
vowel harmony - a phonological process where vowels in a word must share certain features
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