unrounded vowel

phonetics

Also known as: spread vowel

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

In phonetics, an unrounded vowel is a vowel sound produced without rounding the lips. Instead, the lips are relaxed or drawn back. This is the opposite of a rounded vowel, where the lips are pursed.

Generally, front vowels (pronounced with the tongue pushed forward) tend to be unrounded, while back vowels (pronounced with the back of the tongue raised) tend to be rounded. An example of an unrounded vowel in English is the "ee" sound in "meet."12

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rounding
…the opposite of rounding; in unrounded vowels the lips are slack or may be drawn back, as in pronouncing the ee in “meet.” Generally speaking, front vowels tend to be unrounded and back vowels rounded, and this tendency is recognized in the classification of vowels (see vowel). However, the French…
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…the opposite of rounding; in unrounded vowels the lips are slack or may be drawn back, as in pronouncing the ee in “meet.” Generally speaking, front vowels tend to be unrounded and back vowels rounded, and this tendency is recognized in the classification of vowels (see vowel). However, the French…
Read More