anlaut

[ ahn-lout ]

noun

, Linguistics.

, plural an·lau·te [ahn, -lou-t, uh], an·lauts.

1. initial position in a word, especially as a conditioning environment in sound change.
2. a sound in this position.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anlaut¹

1880–85; < German, equivalent to an- on + Laut sound, as noun derivative of anlauten to begin (with a given sound)