# Semivowels > Interactive consonant articulation tool with dynamic animations and anatomy identification. (iPhone/iPad app by Blue Tree Publishing, Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semivowels/id779096748 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Blue Tree Publishing, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/496143325) - Category: Education, Medical - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 2.50/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 37 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2013-12-20 - Data updated: 2026-08-19 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semivowels/id779096748/reviews.md ## What is Semivowels? Semivowels app, authored by Fred D. Minifie, Ph.D, provides valuable instructional/clinical tools for speech-language pathologists, otolaryngologists, speech scientists, linguists, teachers of singing and other professionals. The app includes three nasal, four non-nasal (with three /r/ variants) consonant dynamic animations with sound plus a key view for each of the tongue shape and placement for the structural movements involved in the production of the consonants of American English. • Anatomy ID: as each part is touched, the part highlights and the part name and description text changes. Description text shows or hides on demand .  ◊ Anatomy view - 26 parts, includes nose, mouth and throat structure ID. Zoom and pans. • Highlight View: key view of the tongue shape and placement for three nasal, four non-nasal (with three /r/ variants) consonants of American English.  ◊ Nasal: /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ Non-nasal: /w/, /j/, /l/, /r/ (three variants on /r/)  ◊ Includes a 3 /r/ variant overlay illustration comparing the alveolar, retroflex and velar place of articulation.  ◊ Includes a word and sentence audio example to illustrate consonant articulation for /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /w/, /j/, /l/ • Animations: each consonant shows a lateral view of dynamic movements of the jaw, lips, tongue, velum (soft palate), and larynx needed for proper articulation of that consonant. Audio for each consonant sound is synchronized with the dynamic animations. Anatomy animation included. • Two finger pan of all animations and key view pages. • Drawing Whiteboard feature:  ◊ Drawing: freeform lines in red, blue, green or black hue.  ◊ Draw and place text directly on active animation and video.  ◊ Text: 36pt, auto wrap, non-movable in red, blue, green or black hue.  ◊  Eraser: touch and rub lines and text on whiteboard to erase.  ◊ Trash: one tap deletes all whiteboard lines and text.  ◊ Screenshot whiteboard direct to Photos App for easy email and printing. • iOS 6.0+ required, designed for iPad and iPhone. Semivowels app makes learning consonants easy. See example screen shots below. Get the app today! ## Key features - Dynamic consonant animations - Interactive anatomy identification - Tongue shape and placement views - Synchronized audio examples - Drawing whiteboard feature - Screenshot functionality ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semivowels/id779096748/reviews.md ### 2/5 — “Velar” R is not helpful *2026-01-13* The animation for retroflex r is great - even though it’s in a word, it’s the initial sound in the word so it’s still easy to see. However the only word available to see the motion for the “velar r” (bunched r) is “crow”. The brief moment of the R gets lost between the two other sounds. ### 3/5 — Great, but inaccurate, app *2016-08-09* This is a great teaching resource but there are some issues with the accuracy. When playing through many of the consonant formation animations, the soft palate drops open when it moves from the consonant to the open vowel. This would, of course, result in nasal vowels. It would be great if this could be corrected to make the animation a more accurate reflection of proper speech habits. Also on the D and T consonant formation (forgive my not using IPA notation but the iPad keyboard is lacking) there is full contact of the tip, blade, and front of the tongue with the back of the font teeth, gum ridge, and even front of hard palate. This is a closer approximation of the DTh as heard in Spanish and other languages. A pure D and T utilize the tip of the tongue at the gum ridge. I love this resource for teaching speech and diction to ## Frequently asked questions about Semivowels ### What is Semivowels? Semivowels is an educational app that provides dynamic animations and interactive anatomy views to help users understand the production of American English consonants. It is designed for professionals and educators in fields like speech-language pathology and linguistics. ### What consonants does Semivowels cover? Semivowels covers three nasal consonants (/m/, /n/, /ŋ/) and four non-nasal consonants (/w/, /j/, /l/, /r/), with three variants for /r/. It includes detailed views of tongue shape and placement for each. ### Can I draw or annotate on the animations in Semivowels? Yes, Semivowels features a drawing whiteboard that allows you to draw freeform lines in various colors and add text directly onto active animations. You can then erase or trash your annotations and screenshot them. ### What devices is Semivowels compatible with? Semivowels requires iOS 6.0 or later and is designed for both iPad and iPhone. It is also supported on iPod. ### How much does Semivowels cost? Semivowels is a paid application, priced at $4.99. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements within the app. ### How often is Semivowels updated? The app was last updated on June 23, 2024, indicating active development and support. The current version is 1.3.2. ### What is the age rating for Semivowels? Semivowels has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in learning about speech articulation. ### Does Semivowels have ads? No, Semivowels does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application that offers an ad-free learning experience. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3.2 — 2024-06-23 Bug fixes, security update and performance improvements. Disclaimer: seek a doctor’s advice in addition to using this app and before making any medical decisions. ### 1.3 — 2020-06-11 Bug fixes, security update and performance improvements. ### 1.2 — 2017-05-16 Added a size panel on drawing screen to change font and line size. Updated help screen for drawing and additional apps views ### 1.1 — 2014-05-01 Minor adjustment for sound timing on animation /ŋ/. ### 1.0 — 2013-12-20 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Semivowels | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [EFL FlashCards](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/efl-flashcards/id1534823853) | — | Free | Education | | [ae Pronunciation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ae-pronunciation/id1049726030) | 4.5 (8) | $4.99 | Education | | [EFL - ESL Pronunciation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/efl-esl-pronunciation/id6467023080) | — | Free | Education | | [TC Safe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tc-safe/id6449551038) | — | Free | Education | | [Speaking English Conversation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speaking-english-conversation/id6448713738) | — | Free | Education | | [Vocab Training](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vocab-training/id1367918761) | 4.5 (11) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Blue Tree Publishing, Inc. - [Ear ID](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ear-id/id504379539) - [Vocal Folds ID](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vocal-folds-id/id541766674) - [Swallow ID](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swallow-id/id615125918) - [Aspiration Disorders](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aspiration-disorders/id615934052) - [Oral Disorders](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oral-disorders/id615938541) - [Residue Disorders](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/residue-disorders/id615941080) All apps by Blue Tree Publishing, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/496143325 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*