Consonants are speech sounds produced by partially or completely blocking the airflow through the vocal tract using the lips, tongue, or throat. This obstruction differentiates consonants from vowels, which are produced without such closure
. In the English alphabet, most letters are consonants. The standard consonant letters are: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, and Z. The letter Y can sometimes function as a vowel, depending on its use in words
. Consonants are essential in forming syllables when combined with vowels and play a critical role in spelling, pronunciation, and phonetics. Some consonants can be silent in certain words, and consonant combinations (digraphs) can produce distinct sounds, such as "sh," "th," and "ch"
. In summary:
- Consonants involve partial or complete closure of the vocal tract.
- They include most letters of the English alphabet except the vowels (A, E, I, O, U).
- They combine with vowels to form syllables.
- Examples include sounds like /b/, /t/, /k/, /s/, and /m/
This definition covers both the phonetic and orthographic aspects of consonants in English.
