A central vowel is a type of vowel sound used in some spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a central vowel is that the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel. The central vowels identified by the International Phonetic Alphabet are:

• close central unrounded vowel
• close central rounded vowel
• close-mid central unrounded vowel
• close-mid central rounded vowel
• mid central vowel
• open-mid central unrounded vowel
• open-mid central rounded vowel
• near-open central vowel

Occasionally the ad hoc symbols (ɪ, ʊ) for near-close central vowels will be seen.

Vowels

Voyelle centrale | תנועות מרכזיות | 中舌母音 | Vocală centrală