Definition & Meaning of "tense vowel"

What is a "tense vowel"?

A tense vowel is a type of vowel sound produced with greater muscle tension and effort in the vocal tract, resulting in a longer and more distinct sound. Tense vowels often have a higher pitch and can occur in prominent positions within words. In English, examples of tense vowels include the "ee" sound in "see," the "oo" sound in "food," and the "a" sound in "cake." Tense vowels are important in phonetics because they contribute to the variety of vowel sounds and play a significant role in distinguishing meaning between words, helping to clarify pronunciation in speech.