cut-to-first-vowel

(defun cut-to-first-vowel (word)
  "Returns a word that (in most cases) is trimmed to the first vowel.
Handles cases where <y> or <w> is the *only* vowel in the word.
Returns a word as-is if none of <aeiouyw> can be found."
  (let ((word-as-list (concatenate 'list word)))
    (concatenate 'string
         (if (some #'(lambda (p) (member char '(#\a #\e #\i #\o #\u))) word)
             (member (first (some #'(lambda (p) (member char '(#\a #\e #\i #\o #\u))) word)) word-as-list)
           (or (member #\y word-as-list)
               (member #\w word-as-list)
               word)))))

;; Known issue: the case where <y> is considered a vowel but is not the only vowel in the entire word is handled incorrectly,
;; Such as "synthesis" (should be "ynthesis", but instead is "esis"),
;; "cymbal" (should be "ymbal", but instead is "al")
;; This is unlikely to be fixed until a word list WITH pronunciations is found.