synalepha

/ ˌsɪnəˈliːfə /

noun

linguistics vowel elision, esp as it arises when one word ends in a vowel and the following word begins with one

C16: from Late Latin synaloepha, from Greek sunaliphē, from syn- + aleiphein to melt, smear

Note that the union of vowels in separate words is called synalepha, while the union of vowels within a word is called syneresis.

If the accented vowel is not in a constituent syllable synalepha may occur.

The union of two vowels (diphthongal synalepha) and the union of three vowels (triphthongal synalepha) are the most common.

Synalepha takes place between two contiguous unaccented vowels belonging to separate words.

Synalepha may join into a single syllable two, three, four, and even five vowels.

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