back vowel

linguistics

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June 18, 2026

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In linguistics, a back vowel is a vowel sound produced with the back of the tongue raised toward the soft palate (velum). Examples of back vowels in English include the u in "rule" and the o in "pole". Vowels are classified based on the position of the tongue and lips during pronunciation.12

The tongue's position can be high, mid, or low, and also front or back. Back vowels are distinct from front vowels, which are produced with the front of the tongue pushed forward. Lip position, whether rounded or spread, also contributes to vowel classification. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) provides a standardized system for representing these and other speech sounds.123

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vowel
A back vowel—e.g., the u in “rule” and the o in “pole”—is produced with the back part of the tongue raised toward the soft palate (velum).
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A back vowel—e.g., the u in “rule” and the o in “pole”—is produced with the back part of the tongue raised toward the soft palate (velum).
Read More