What is a consonant?

A consonant is a speech sound that is produced when there is obstruction of the breath stream in the vocal tract. This obstruction is caused by the closing or narrowing of the vocal tract at some point, which produces turbulence in the airflow. Consonants are classified according to how they are articulated and where the point of obstruction occurs in the vocal tract. Some common types of consonants include plosives (also known as stops), fricatives, affricates, nasals, and liquids. The articulation of consonants involves the lips, tongue, and vocal cords, and can vary in intensity and duration. In contrast to vowels, which are produced with an open vocal tract, consonants are characterized by a constriction or closure in the vocal tract. Consonants play a crucial role in the formation of words and in the structure of language.