Closedfront

Closedfront is a term used in phonetics and phonology to denote a high, front vowel articulation. The more common form in scholarly writing is close front, but closedfront appears in some glossaries and datasets as a concatenated variant. The descriptor describes vowels produced with the tongue high in the mouth (close/high) and positioned toward the front of the oral cavity (front). Lip rounding is independent of these dimensions and may be present or absent.

In the International Phonetic Alphabet, typical realizations of a close front vowel include the unrounded [i], as in English see, and the rounded [y], as in French lune. The terms “close/front” indicate height and place of articulation, while rounding is considered an independent feature. Thus, close front vowels can be either unrounded or rounded, depending on the language.

Close front vowels are a standard part of vowel inventories in many languages and contrast with other high vowels (such as close back vowels) and with mid or open vowels at different backness positions. Their specific phonetic quality, including exact tongue height and frontness, can vary due to phonetic context, speaker differences, and language-specific phonology.

Notes: The widely used terminology in IPA literature is “close front.” Closedfront is a less common variant found in some sources. This term should not be confused with domains outside phonetics, such as electronics or typography, where similar-sounding phrases have unrelated meanings. See also close vowel, front vowel, and high vowel.