Etymology

From a reshaping (deformation) of English speak and/or (possibly) speech (the word speak, with Volapük pronunciation spelling > spik, letter "s" was deleted > pik, unrounded "i" changed to rounded "ü", and voilà > pük "language"). Also compare newer Volapük spikön "(to) speak" (< spik) to older Volapük pükön "(to) speak"; Newspeak, Oldspeak.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pyk/
• Hyphenation: pük