Gheada

  Gheada
  No gheada

Gheada is a phenomenon in the Galician language describing the debuccalization of the voiced velar stop [g] to a voiceless pharyngeal fricative [ħ].

It is found throughout Galicia, though its use is declining in Lugo and eastern Ourense, and it is rarely encountered in education or broadcasting. However, it is not considered incorrect or stigmatized, and is perfectly acceptable in speech.

Occasionally, this sound is also articulated as a voiceless velar fricative [x], as in Castilian "jamón".

Orthographic representation

When the pronunciation is found in the written language, it is indicated by the digraph gh.

Examples:

  • "gato" ['gato] (cat) --> "ghato" ['ħato]
  • "pago" ['paɣo] (payment) --> "pagho" ['paħo]

See also


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