Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
crases
noun
/ˈkreɪzɪz/
Definition
A linguistic phenomenon where two vowels are combined into one to facilitate ease of pronunciation, often observed in contractions.
Examples
- “What’re you doing?” is an example of crases in rapid speech.
- In some dialects, “I am” may be pronounced as “I’m” through crasis.
Meaning
In grammar, crases, or elisions, occur when a vowel at the end of one word merges with a vowel at the beginning of another word, often seen in spoken language or informal writing.
Synonyms
- Elision
- Contraction
- Blend
