"In geminates" is a linguistic term used to describe a phonetic or phonological feature in certain languages where a consonant is pronounced or represented by a double or long consonant. When a consonant is geminated, it means it is articulated or written as a sustained or prolonged sound, rather than a short or single sound.
Gemination can occur in various languages, including Arabic, Italian, Finnish, Japanese, and many others. It usually happens in specific linguistic contexts, such as between vowels, within a word, or at word boundaries.
For example, in Italian, gemination is commonly observed between vowels. The word "sette" meaning "seven" is pronounced with a long /tt/ sound in geminate form, contrasting it from the single /t/ sound found in the word "sete" meaning "thirst."
Gemination can also be observed in English loanwords borrowed from other languages. The word "pizzicato" from Italian, used in music to indicate plucking the strings of a musical instrument, features the geminate /zz/ sound in the middle, representing an extended /z/ sound.
Overall, the term "in geminates" refers to the state or occurrence of a consonant being pronounced or represented as a double or long consonant, distinguishing it from its short or single counterpart.
