Juhivõnnu

Juhivõnnu refers to a phenomenon in Estonian linguistics related to vowel harmony, specifically within the context of diphthongs. In Estonian, vowel harmony generally dictates that vowels within a single word should belong to a certain class. While Estonian is not a strict vowel harmony language like Finnish, certain phonological rules and tendencies exist. Juhivõnnu specifically addresses how diphthongs, which are a sequence of two vowel sounds in the same syllable, behave in relation to the vowel harmony system.

The term itself is derived from Estonian words "juhi" (leader or guiding) and "vönnu" (a colloquial or dialectal term for vowel, often used in a broader sense of vowel sounds or phonemes). Therefore, "juhivõnnu" can be interpreted as "guiding vowels" or "leading vowel sounds," implying their role in determining the overall vowel quality of a word or syllable. In some analyses, juhivõnnu might refer to the first element of a diphthong as being the primary determinant of the vowel class for that syllable, thus guiding the overall phonological interpretation of the word. This concept is particularly relevant when analyzing loanwords or dialectal variations, where adherence to standard Estonian phonology might be less strict. Understanding juhivõnnu helps linguists to better predict and explain phonetic and phonological patterns in the Estonian language.