soft c

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sɒft siː/
• (US) enPR: säft sē, IPA^(key): /sɔft si/

Noun

soft c (plural soft cs)

1. (phonology) In many languages, a letter "c" which is not pronounced as a velar stop (/k/, like English "k") but as a sibilant (/s/, like English "s") or an affricative (/tʃ/, like English "ch").

   In English, the "c" sound in "cent", "central" and "circuit" as distinct from the hard c in "cat" and "cabin".

   In Italian, the "c" sound in "certo" as distinct from the "c" sound in "caffè".

Related terms

• soft g
• hard c
• hard g

Translations

Translations

• French: c doux (fr)