palatalize
/ˈpælətəlaɪz/
verb
- To pronounce a sound with the tongue raised toward the hard palate, making it a palatal or palatalized sound.
- The teacher showed the class how to palatalize a 'g' to make it sound softer.
- Children often palatalize sounds naturally as they learn to talk.
- In some accents, people palatalize the 'd' in 'education' so it sounds like 'j'.