What does palatal mean?
Palatal is a technical adjective most often used in phonetics, anatomy, and dentistry. In phonetics, it describes a speech sound made with the tongue against or close to the hard palate, the bony front section of the roof of the mouth; the initial consonant sound in “yes” is a familiar example. The term can also refer anatomically to the hard palate or to a surface facing it, as in the palatal surface of an upper tooth. Palatal is therefore more specific than palate, a noun naming the roof of the mouth. Although it may sound technical in everyday conversation, it is useful whenever precision about a sound’s place of articulation matters, especially in phonetics, speech therapy, and language teaching. The word is used in standard English in both British and American usage and carries no special social or regional connotation.
Relating to the hard palate or describing a speech sound produced with the tongue against or close to it.
"The phonetics course examined the palatal articulation of the /j/ sound."
A speech sound produced with the tongue against or close to the hard palate.
"That final sound is a palatal."
This noun is uncommon outside specialist descriptions of speech sounds.
The plural is rare; the adjective “palatal” is normally preferred when referring to a class of sounds.
"The instructor asked the students to identify the two palatals in the chart."
Palatal names the place where sounds such as the y in “yes” are made: against the hard palate, the bony front of the roof of the mouth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does palatal come from?
Palatal was borrowed into English in the early nineteenth century from French palatal, ultimately derived from Latin palatum, meaning “the roof of the mouth” or “palate.” The same Latin root underlies palate and the English forms palatalize and palatalization, which describe the production of sounds with a palatal place of articulation.
Related word forms
How palatal is actually used
A specialist but neutral term used chiefly in phonetics, anatomy, dentistry, and related fields. It is standard in both British and American English.
Easily confused with palatal
Palatal is an adjective or, occasionally, a noun for a sound, whereas palate is a noun referring to the roof of the mouth or the sense of taste.
Palatable means acceptable to the taste or pleasing, while palatal concerns the hard palate or sounds made with the tongue near it.