phonemic

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparabletechnical

   Relating to phonemes, the smallest units of sound that can change a word's meaning in a language.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: 'phonemic awareness', 'phonemic contrast'. Not usually used after a verb.

   Patterns

   • phonemic awareness
   • phonemic contrast
   • phonemic transcription

   The teacher assessed each child's phonemic awareness before starting reading groups.

   In English, /p/ and /b/ have a phonemic contrast, as in 'pat' and 'bat'.

   Linguists use phonemic transcription to show only the sounds that matter for meaning.

2. 2adjectivenot comparabletechnical

   In a writing system, representing each phoneme with a separate symbol.

   Grammar: Describes writing systems or spellings: 'a phonemic alphabet'.

   Patterns

   • phonemic spelling
   • phonemic alphabet

   Korean Hangul is often described as a phonemic script.

   The reform aimed to make English spelling more phonemic.

Common combinations

phonemic awareness

Phonemic awareness helps children hear the separate sounds in 'cat'.

phonemic contrast

The phonemic contrast between /l/ and /r/ is difficult for some learners.

phonemic transcription

The dictionary uses phonemic transcription in slashes.

phonemic system

Each language has its own phonemic system.

Synonyms and how they differ

phonetic

Phonetic relates to actual speech sounds in general, while phonemic focuses on the sounds that distinguish meaning.

Word family

phoneme noun

A single unit of sound that can change meaning.

phonemics noun

The study of phonemes in a language.

phonemically adverb

In a way that relates to phonemes.

Commonly confused: phonemic or phonetic?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “phonemic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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