Consonants are non-vowel speaking sounds. A consonant sound is created by a total or partial restriction of the airstream, caused by a constriction of our speech organs.

A consonant is any letter of the alphabet, with the exclusions of A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y, in the context of writing. The English language has 24 consonant sounds, some of which are voiced (produced by vibrating the vocal cords) and some of which are silent (made without vibration).

Let’s take a closer look at the English consonant letters and sounds.

Vowels vs. Consonants

Vowels do not have a mouth blockage when uttered, but consonants do. While vowels are spoken utilizing minimal shaping of the breath at the vocal cords, consonant sounds are made by blockage or by diverting the breath through the teeth, lips, tongue, nasal tube, or throat.

Some consonants, such as B, use the vocal cords, whereas others do not. Some employ the passage of air in a way that is comparable to vowels, such as W or R. When vowels and consonants are joined, syllables are formed, which are the fundamental units of speech.

Syllables, in turn, serve as the foundation for all words in the English language. Consonants, on the other hand, are far more phonetically flexible.

Blends and Consonant Digraphs

A consonant cluster or consonant blend is formed when two or more consonants are uttered consecutively without a vowel between them (‘bursts’ or ‘dream’). Each letter’s sound may be heard in a mix.

In the instance of a consonant digraph, two following letters represent the same sound. G and H are popular digraphs that, when combined, produce the sound of F, as in ‘enough.’ Similarly, the letters P and H, when combined, imitate the letter F, as in the word ‘phone.’

Stopping Consonants

Consonants can also be used to bracket a vowel, halting its sound. These are accurately termed stop consonants because the air in the vocal channel is completely halted at a place, usually the lips, tongue, or teeth.

The air is abruptly expelled to produce the consonant sound. The letters D, B, and G are among the most commonly used stops, while K, T, and P may also be used. Stop consonants can be found in words like ‘kit’ and ‘pip.’

Stop consonants are sometimes known as plosives because their sounds are produced in the mouth by tiny air ‘explosions.’

Finally, consider the following:

There’s a lot more to consonants in the English language than what we’ve covered here, but these are the most fundamental ideas. We hope you’ve gained a better understanding of English as a language.