noun
Linguistics term for the smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language.
日本語の音素には「あ」「い」「う」「え」「お」の五つの母音がある。
Japanese phonemes include the five vowels 'a', 'i', 'u', 'e', and 'o'.
音素の違いが意
Differences in phonemes create differences in meaning.