A parasitic vowel, also known as an epenthetic vowel, is a vowel inserted into a word that is not present in the original spelling or pronunciation. Synonyms for parasitic vowel include intrusive vowel, excrescent vowel, and dummy vowel. These terms all refer to the same phenomenon of an additional vowel sound being added to a word, often to make it easier to pronounce or to fit into a particular rhythmic pattern. While parasitic vowels are common in many languages, they can be considered non-standard or even incorrect in some cases, particularly in formal writing or speech.