lenis
/ˈliːnɪs/
adjective
- Pronounced with relatively weak muscular tension and less force; used to describe certain consonant sounds in phonetics.
- In English, the 'b' in 'cab' is a lenis consonant, while the 'p' in 'cap' is fortis.
- Lenis sounds are often voiced or produced with less air pressure.
- Linguists classify the 'd' in 'ladder' as lenis compared to the 't' in 'latter'.
Antonyms
noun
- A lenis consonant sound.
- The word 'zoo' begins with a lenis.
- In many languages, lenes are voiced in certain positions.
- The student practiced distinguishing between fortis and lenis in speech.