What is another word for semivowel?
Pronunciation: [sˌɛmɪvˈa͡ʊə͡l] (IPA) 
The term semivowel, sometimes called a glide, refers to a speech sound that is pronounced with both a consonant and a vowel quality. Other words for semivowel include approximant, which emphasizes the sound's close approximation to a pure vowel, as well as liquid, glide, and jiffricant. The most common semivowels in English are the sounds represented by the letters 'w' and 'y'. Despite the lack of distinguishing consonant or vowel qualities, semivowels help make spoken language clearer and more distinct, especially in diphthongs and in words like "slide" and "wet". The concept of the semivowel is key to understanding the nuances and complexities of spoken language.
