Other forms: phonesthemes
In the study of language, a phonestheme is a sound within a word that evokes a specific meaning.
Unlike a formal word part — such as a prefix or root that carries a specific meaning — a phonestheme is a sound that simply suggests a certain meaning. A linguist might explain phonesthemes with the example of the sk- sound in scoot, scamper, scurry, skate, skip, and skedaddle. This pattern of words implies that the sound itself carries some meaning, specifically "move forward rapidly." Another phonestheme is the "closing" meaning seen in the cl- sound of clap, clench, and clamp. The word phonestheme is derived from the Greek root phōnē, "voice or sound."