semivowel

A sound that has the quality of one of the high vowels, as (ē) or (oo͞), and that functions as a consonant before or after vowels, as the initial sounds of yell and well and the final sounds of coy and cow.

A half-vowel; a sound partaking of the nature of both a vowel and a consonant; an articulation lying near the line of division between vowel and consonant, and so capable of being used with either value; also, the sign representing such a sound.

A sound intermediate between a vowel and a consonant, or partaking of the nature of both, as in the English w and y.

The sign or letter representing such a sound.

A sound in speech which has some qualities of a consonant and some qualities of a vowel

A letter which represents a semivowel sound, such as w or y in English.

a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant