postvocalic

Postvocalic is a term used in linguistics to describe segments that occur after a vowel within a syllable or word. It most often refers to consonants that appear in the syllable coda, immediately following the vowel nucleus. In this sense, postvocalic consonants are contrasted with pre-vocalic (before a vowel) and intervocalic (between vowels).

In languages with common syllable structures such as CV or CVC, postvocalic consonants are typical; they can mark syllable boundaries and affect phonotactics, stress, and rhythm. Examples of postvocalic consonants include t after a in “bat,” n after u in “sun,” and the rhotic r after a vowel in rhotic dialects like “car.”

A well-known subtype is the postvocalic R, referring to the rhotic consonant [ɹ] that follows a vowel in many American and other dialects, resulting in rhotic or R-colored vowels. This feature can persist in some dialects or be absent in others, contributing to variation between rhotic and non-rhotic varieties. In non-rhotic varieties, the postvocalic r is not pronounced in syllables like “car” or “near,” while in rhotic varieties it is pronounced or influences the preceding vowel quality.

In phonology and phonotactics, postvocalic segments influence syllable weight, vowel reduction, and final consonant voicing or devoicing, especially at word boundaries. The term is also used in phonetic transcription to indicate a consonant following a vowel, irrespective of boundary.