intervocalic

[ in-ter-voh-kal-ik ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

, Phonetics.

(usually of a consonant) immediately following a vowel and preceding a vowel, as the v in cover.

intervocalic

/ ˌɪntəvəʊˈkælɪk /

First recorded in 1885–90; inter- + vocalic

An intervocalic s or sh shows a tendency to become lisped and voiced to d.

Intervocalic g is sometimes retained but generally it has disappeared, whilst after r and l it is still written.

A similar difference in pronunciation existed between antevocalic and intervocalic v, s and final f, s, see 33.

Vice versa, in roots with intervocalic /l/ or /r/, the /l/ or /r/ may change to /d/ when final or abutting on a consonant.

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