betacism

B3E1T1A1C3I1S1M3
/ˈbiːtəˌsɪzəm//ˈbeɪtəˌsɪzəm/

noun

A sound change in which [b] (the voiced bilabial plosive) shifts to [v] (the voiced labiodental fricative).

“Betacism is a fairly common phenomenon: it has taken place in Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, and some Portuguese dialects, among others.”

Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounbetacism (usually uncountable, plural betacisms)

plural betacisms

  1. uncountableusuallyhuman sciencesA sound change in which [b] (the voiced bilabial plosive) shifts to [v] (the voiced labiodental fricative).

    Betacism is a fairly common phenomenon: it has taken place in Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, and some Portuguese dialects, among others.

  2. uncountableusuallyA speech disorder involving excessive use of the [b] sound, or conversion of other sounds into it.

Origin

From beta + -cism (“phenomenon related to a specific phoneme”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

betacism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/betacism

MLA

“betacism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/betacism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “betacism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/betacism.

Source: betacism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.