What is a vowel in languages?

A vowel is a speech sound produced with an open vocal tract, allowing air to flow freely. They are a fundamental property of all languages and contribute to the syllabic structure of words. Vowels are characterized by the absence of constriction in the vocal tract, distinguishing them from consonants, which involve some degree of constriction.

In written “phonographic languages” (PL), vowels are typically represented by Latin letters such as a, e, i, o, and u, although the actual vowel sounds of different languages can vary widely. Vowels vary in quality, in loudness and also in quantity (length). They are usually voiced and are closely involved in prosodic variation such as tone, intonation and stress. Vowels play a crucial role in word pronunciation and can significantly impact the meaning and intelligibility of spoken languages.