Pronunciation: [pˈalət] (IPA) 
The word "palate" is spelled with the letters p-a-l-a-t-e. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /ˈpælət/. The first syllable is stressed and contains the sound /p/ followed by the short vowel sound /æ/. The second syllable contains the sound /l/ followed by the schwa sound /ə/ and the sound /t/ at the end. The word refers to the roof of the mouth and is often associated with taste and flavor.
Palate, in anatomy, refers to the roof of the mouth, an essential structure that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. This bony and muscular partition is located in the oral region and is formed by the hard palate in the front and the soft palate in the back. It plays a vital role in the process of chewing, swallowing, and speech production.
The hard palate is the rigid anterior part of the palate, consisting of bones that are covered by a mucous membrane. It acts as a platform against which the tongue pushes food during chewing and helps to direct food towards the back of the oral cavity for swallowing. Posteriorly, the hard palate transitions into the softer and more flexible tissue of the soft palate.
The soft palate, or velum, is a flexible muscular structure that extends backward from the hard palate. It aids in closing off the nasal cavity during swallowing and speech, preventing food and fluids from entering the nasal passages. It also plays a crucial role in producing speech sounds, particularly in the production of nasal consonants.
The palate, with its bony and muscular components, is a fundamental part of the oral and respiratory systems. It serves important functions in the processes of eating, drinking, breathing, and communication. Disorders or abnormalities involving the palate can lead to difficulties in these functions, including speech disorders, swallowing difficulties, and sleep apnea.
Palatum, uraniscus, the roof of the mouth, the bony and muscular partition between the oral and the nasal cavities; popularly the uvula.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• The upper part or roof of the mouth; the organ of taste; taste or relish; intellectual taste; in bot., the projecting portion of the under lip of personate flowers.
• A prefix in many medical terms, signifying connection with the palate.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "palate" originated from the Latin word "palatum", which referred to the roof of the mouth. This Latin term was related to the verb "palpare", meaning "to touch softly". The word then evolved through Old French and Middle English before becoming "palate" in Modern English.
