ändstopp

ändstopp is a linguistic term used to describe a syllable or word that ends with a stop consonant, as opposed to ending in a vowel. The component änd means “end” and stopp means “stop” in Swedish, and the term is primarily used in Swedish phonology and phonotactics. In English-language literature, the concept is commonly referred to as a final or terminal stop, or more generally as a closed syllable with a coda.

In phonological terms, an ändstopp occurs when the coda of a syllable is a plosive or stop consonant, such as p, t, k, b, d, or g. This creates a closed syllable, in contrast to an open syllable that ends in a vowel. The presence or absence of an ändstopp affects syllable structure, rhythm, and prosody. Many languages exhibit final stops in some dialects or linguistic environments while others favor open syllables.

All languages with final stops may display variation in voicing, aspiration, or devoicing in word-final position. In many cases, final stops are devoiced in pronunciation, even if they are voiced in isolation. Orthography typically reflects final stops with the corresponding consonant letters at the end of the word.

Examples from Germanic languages illustrate the concept: Swedish words such as mat (food) and start (start) end in a stop consonant, as do English words like cat or stop. Some languages restrict or favor codas differently, influencing syllable count and stress patterns.

See also: syllable, codas, open syllable, closed syllable, glottal stop.