Glottal
/ˈɡlɒt.əl/noun
Relating to the glottis, the part of the larynx involved in sound production.
Did you know?Glottal comes from Greek glōtta/glōssa, meaning “tongue,” and the same ancient root also gave English words tied to language and foreign speech.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
glōssa / glōtta
“tongue; language; sometimes a foreign or obscure word”
Late Latin
Latin
glotta
“tongue; the tongue as an organ of speech”
19th Century
English
glottal
“relating to the glottis, especially in phonetics”
Modern English
English
glottal
“pertaining to the glottis or produced at the glottis”
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