Question

Which term refers to the smallest unit of sound that can change the meaning of a word?

• A. Phoneme
• B. Morpheme
• C. Syllable
• D. Diphthong

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Phoneme

• A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word.

• For example:

  • /p/ vs. /b/ in "pat" and "bat" — changing just that one sound changes the entire meaning.

• Phonemes are abstract categories of sound that speakers recognize as distinct within their language.

• They are written between slashes like this: /p/, /b/, /t/, /k/.