velarize

ve·lar·ize
V4E1L1A1R1I1Z10E1
/ˈviːləɹaɪz/

verb

To raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant, such as the l of English pool.

“In several dialects of Central German, the cluster -nd- has been velarized to -ng-.”

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Meanings

verbvelarize (third-person singular simple present velarizes, present participle velarizing, simple past and past participle velarized)

present singular third person velarizes · participle present velarizing · participle past velarized · past velarized · alternative velarise

  1. human sciencesTo raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant, such as the l of English pool.
  2. human sciencesTo replace a (usually more front) consonant with a velar.

    In several dialects of Central German, the cluster -nd- has been velarized to -ng-.

Origin

From velar + -ize.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan velaritzar
  • velaritzarto raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant
Chinese Mandarin 軟腭化
  • 軟腭化 (ruǎnèhuà)to raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant
German velarisieren
  • velarisierento raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant
Japanese 軟口蓋化
  • 軟口蓋化 (nankōgaika)to raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant
Russian веляризовать
  • веляризовать (veljarizovatʹ)to raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant
Spanish velarizar
  • velarizarto raise the back of the tongue toward the velum while articulating another consonant

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with velarize

sizesuppliesexerciseguysriseprizeliessurprisewisetiesariseadvisediesbuyscompromisefliesauthorizerevisecomprisefriesexcisepiesdyesdemise
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

velarize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/velarize

MLA

“velarize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/velarize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “velarize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/velarize.

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