Great Vowel Shift

proper noun

A major change in the pronunciation of the English language, affecting the sounds of long vowels, that took place in England between 1350 and 1700.

“Because English spelling was becoming standardized in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Great Vowel Shift is responsible for many of the peculiarities of English spelling.”

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Meanings

proper nounthe Great Vowel Shift
  1. human sciencesA major change in the pronunciation of the English language, affecting the sounds of long vowels, that took place in England between 1350 and 1700.

    Because English spelling was becoming standardized in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Great Vowel Shift is responsible for many of the peculiarities of English spelling.

Origin

Coined by Danish linguist Otto Jespersen.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 元音大推移
  • 元音大推移 (Yuányīn Dà Tuīyí)major change in the pronunciation of the English language
Dutch grote klinkerverschuiving
  • grote klinkerverschuivingmajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
Finnish suuri vokaalisiirros
  • suuri vokaalisiirrosmajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
French grand changement vocalique
  • grand changement vocaliquemajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
German Große Vokalverschiebung
  • Große Vokalverschiebungmajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
Hungarian nagy magánhangzócsúszás
  • nagy magánhangzócsúszásmajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
Japanese 大母音推移
  • 大母音推移 (dai boin suii)major change in the pronunciation of the English language
Polish wielka przesuwka samogłoskowa
  • wielka przesuwka samogłoskowamajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
Portuguese grande mudança vocálica
  • grande mudança vocálicamajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
Spanish gran desplazamiento vocálico
  • gran desplazamiento vocálicomajor change in the pronunciation of the English language
Cite this entry
APA

Great Vowel Shift. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Great%20Vowel%20Shift

MLA

“Great Vowel Shift.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Great%20Vowel%20Shift. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Great Vowel Shift,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Great%20Vowel%20Shift.

Source: Great Vowel Shift on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.