フォニームフォニームMeanings1nounphonemelinguisticsLinguistics term for the smallest unit of sound that distinguishes meaning. The native Japanese equivalent is 音素 (おんそ).See also: 音素日本にほん語ごのフォニームの数かずは英えい語ごより少すくない。The number of phonemes in Japanese is smaller than in English.