Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

anaptyxis

noun

/əˈnæp.tɪ.k.sɪs/

Definition

The insertion of a sound or syllable within a word, especially in pronunciation.

Examples

In the word ‘film’, some speakers may pronounce it as ‘filum’ due to anaptyxis.
During casual conversation, you might hear someone say ‘ath-elete’ instead of ‘athlete’ because of anaptyxis.

Meaning

Anaptyxis refers to a phonological phenomenon where a vowel sound is added to break up a consonant cluster or to ease pronunciation. This can happen naturally in language evolution or in casual speech.