Helping vowel
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A vowel is inserted between two consonants in certain words that usually contain l, r, or n. This type of inserted vowel can be called a helping vowel, svarabhakti vowel, or an epenthetic vowel. It's usually an exact copy of the preceding stressed vowel. Listen to the following examples:
[aLabə] | Alba | Alba |
[marav] | marbh | marbh |
[faLav] | falbh | leave! |
[aram] | arm | weapon |
[dɔrɔxə] | dorcha | dark |
[ɛnɛm] | ainm | name (n.) |
[dʲɛrɛg] | dearg | red |
[dʲarav] | dearbh | real |
[baLagəm] | balgam | mouthful |
[dɤrʲɤv] | doirbh | difficult |
[uruxər] | urchar | shot (n.) |
For guidelines on the exact nature of the helping vowel, see the section on the Helping Vowel.
Fuaimean na Gàidhlig | ||||||||||||
᚛ Vowels - Consonants - Fricatives - Slenderisation - Pre-aspiration - Lenition - Helping vowel - Diphthongs ᚜ ᚛ Hiatus - l n r - rt & rd - Vowels before rr ll nn - Unstressed vowels ᚜ |