Standard Lemma guide

palatalize

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈpælətəlaɪz/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪz

1

verb

Meaning 1

To pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate of the mouth when that sound normally would not be so pronounced.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonetics, phonology, sciences

Examples

  • Most English speakers palatalize the letter t in the word "nature".

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: palatize

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be pronounced with the tongue against the palate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonetics, phonology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

pronounce a consonant with the tongue against the palate

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: palatalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pronounce, articulate, enounce, sound out, enunciate, say

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleth2-? Proto-Indo-European *pel-? Proto-Indo-European *pleh2-osder. Latin palātumder. Old French palatbor. Middle English palate English palate English -al English palatal Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English palatalize From palatal + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: քմայնացնել (kʻmaynacʻnel) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Armenian: փափկացնել (pʻapʻkacʻnel) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Catalan: palatalitzar — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Finnish: palatalisoida — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • French: palataliser — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Galician: palatalizar — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • German: palatalisieren — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Italian: palatalizzare — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Polish: palatalizować — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Portuguese: palatalizar — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Romanian: palataliza — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Russian: палатализова́ть (palatalizovátʹ) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Russian: палатализи́ровать (palatalizírovatʹ) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Russian: смягчать (smjagčát') — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Russian: смягчить (smjagčít') — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Spanish: palatalizar — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Swedish: palatalisera — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Ukrainian: палаталізува́ти (palatalizuváty) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Ukrainian: м'якши́ти (mʺjakšýty) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Ukrainian: пом'я́кшувати (pomʺjákšuvaty) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate
  • Ukrainian: пом'якши́ти (pomʺjakšýty) — to pronounce a sound with the tongue against the palate