phonetic
Definitions
Relating to the sounds of spoken language
语音的，语音学的
(of spelling) representing speech sounds accurately, one symbol per sound
（拼写）按发音拼写的，音形对应的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedphōnē (sound) + -etic (adjective ending) = 'relating to speech sounds.' This is phon at its most literal — no metaphor, just sound. A phonetic alphabet maps symbols to actual sounds rather than to spelling.
Root phon still carries 13 more wordsWhy It Means This
A language is called 'phonetic' when its spelling closely tracks its sounds (like Spanish), and 'non-phonetic' when it doesn't (like English, where 'though,' 'through,' and 'tough' share letters but not sounds). The phonetic alphabet was invented precisely because ordinary spelling is such an unreliable guide to pronunciation.
Usage Guide
Note the part of speech: 'phonetic' is the adjective ('phonetic transcription'), 'phonetics' (with -s) is the noun naming the field of study. Input had phonetic tagged as n. — it is an adjective.
Example Sentences
- 1.
The dictionary gives the phonetic spelling of every word.
- 2.
Pilots use the phonetic alphabet — Alpha, Bravo, Charlie.
- 3.
Spanish is largely phonetic, so spelling matches sound.