Descriptions of vocal-tract configuration commonly neglect the pharynx. Side-view sketches of the “supraglottal cavities” traditionally offer little distinction of pharyngeal outline from vowel to vowel, or from sound to sound of whatever nature. Actually, the pharyngeal cavities assume shape and sizes highly characteristic and predictable for given sounds—especially vowel sounds. When viewed cineradiographically, in sagittal-plane projection, the mesopharynx and hypopharynx appear to be maximally constricted during the [a] vowel, maximally extended during the [u] vowel, and similarly extended but with a decidedly different shape—during the [i] vowel, for example. Articulatory adjustments in anticipation of an associated vocalic nucleus are also predictable and characteristic in terms of the particular approaching vowel, especially, but exclusively, in the same “syllable.” Thus, the pharyngeal configurations for the respective consonantal portions of [la] and [lu], for example, are radically different. Static x-ray mews are at best only partially descriptive, but cineradiography provides the dynamics prerequisite for reliable estimates, and correlated sound-spectrographic analysis confirms the time-axis particulars. Lateral x-ray projections never truly define the vocal tract, and anteroposterior views reveal the consistent asymmetries of cross-sectional areas and disclose postulated “midlines” as illusionary. Preadjustments of the epipharynx, too, are out of phase with classically described articulatory gestures. (A short cineradiographic film and individual extracted frames correlated with sound, sound spectrograms, over-all intensity, oscillograms, and frame marking are offered in demonstration of statements and criticisms above.)