Palatal
/ˈpæl.ə.təl/noun
Relating to the palate or to sounds articulated with the tongue against the hard palate.
Did you know?The term was borrowed through French from Medieval Latin palatālis, ultimately from Latin palatum, because the hard palate was literally the place where certain sounds were thought to be formed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pl̥h₂tóm
“Flat, broad surface”
Latin
Latin
palatum
“The roof of the mouth; palate”
Medieval Latin
Latin
palatālis
“Of or relating to the palate”
Old French
Old French
palatal
“Palatal; relating to the palate”
Middle English
English
palatal
“Relating to the palate or to palatal sounds”
Modern English
English
palatal
“Relating to the palate or to speech sounds made against the hard palate”