What is a devoiced vowel?

A devoiced vowel is a vowel such as the one at the end of desu which is pronounced without voicing, rendering it close to silent. Devoiced vowels can occur in Japanese between two unvoiced consonants, the consonants k, s, t, h and p, or at the end of a word in a word with low pitch accent (see What is Japanese pitch accent?). Devoicing does not occur in the last mora before a drop in pitch accent.

References

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