What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
glottal
Example
The glottal stop is a common feature in many languages. [glottal: adjective]
Example
The word 'uh-oh' contains a glottal stop between the two syllables. [glottal: noun]
pharyngeal
Example
The pharyngeal fricative is a rare sound in English. [pharyngeal: adjective]
Example
The Arabic language has several pharyngeal sounds that are not found in English. [pharyngeal: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Glottal sounds are more commonly used in English than pharyngeal sounds. The 'h' sound in 'hat' is an example of a glottal sound that is present in many languages. On the other hand, pharyngeal sounds are less common and are found in a limited number of languages.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between glottal and pharyngeal?
Both glottal and pharyngeal are technical terms used in phonetics and linguistics, making them more formal in nature. However, they can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on the situation.
