What are consonants? They’re the letters that aren’t vowels. The majority of the English letters are consonants, with the exception of a, e, i, o, and u, which are vowels. Consonants play a vital role in spelling and pronunciation, as well as in writing, which requires sound, such as in poetry or music lyrics. There are 24 consonant sounds in the English language, and in this article, we will list the 24 consonant sounds with 10 examples each.
What are Consonant Sounds?
A consonant sound is a speaking sound generated when the lips, teeth, tongue, or throat partially or completely block airflow. According to the Collins Dictionary, a consonant sound is “a sound such as ‘p,’ ‘f,’ ‘n,’ or ‘t’ which you pronounce by stopping the air flowing freely through your mouth.”
Classification of Consonant Sounds
Consonant sounds can be classified into the following:
Place of Articulation
The place of articulation refers to where the articulators (teeth, tongue, lips or glottis) make contact in the vocal tract to create consonant sounds. There are eight places of articulation for consonant sounds: bilabial, labiodental, dental, alveolar, post-alveolar, palatal, velar, and glottal.
Bilabial consonants like /p/, /b/, and /m/ are produced by bringing both lips together. Labiodental consonants such as /f/ and /v/ are articulated by bringing the lower lip into contact with the upper teeth. Dental consonants /θ/ and /ð/ are articulated with the tongue against the upper teeth.
Alveolar consonants /t/, /d/, /n/, /l/, and /s/ are articulated with the tongue against the alveolar ridge. Post-alveolar consonants /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ are articulated with the tongue just behind the alveolar ridge. Palatal consonants /j/ and /ɲ/ are articulated with the tongue against the hard palate.
Velar consonants /k/, /g/, and /ŋ/ are articulated with the back of the tongue against the soft palate. Glottal consonants /h/ and /ʔ/ are articulated in the glottis, with the vocal folds obstructing airflow.
Manner of Articulation
The manner of articulation refers to how the airflow is obstructed. There are six manners of articulation: stops, fricatives, affricates, nasals, approximants, and laterals.
Stops like /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/ are consonant sounds produced by completely blocking airflow for a short period of time. Fricatives such as /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /θ/, and /ð/ are consonant sounds produced by narrowing airflow to create friction.
Affricates /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ start as stops but release into fricatives. Nasals /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/ allow airflow through the nose. Approximants /w/, /ɹ/, and /j/ produce minimal obstruction. Laterals like /l/ allow airflow around the sides of the tongue.
The 24 Consonant Sounds with 10 Examples Each
The English language has 24 consonant sounds. As a native English speaker, you likely pronounce most of these sounds without even thinking about it. However, for those learning English as a second language, consonant sounds can be challenging to master. Familiarizing yourself with the consonant sounds and how they’re produced can help.
Plosives or Stop Consonants
Plosives, or stop consonants, are sounds made by blocking airflow and then releasing it. The six plosive sounds in English are: /P/, /B/, /T/, /D/, /K/, and /G/.
10 Examples of Each Stop Consonants /P/, /B/, /T/, /D/, /K/, /G/
The /P/ Sound
The /p/ sound is made by briefly closing your lips and then opening them, releasing a puff of air. For example:
- Pop
- Pipe
- Peep
- Plop
- Plan
- Poop
- Pup
- Poppy
- Pepper
- Peeper
The /B/ Sound
To make the /b/ sound, close your lips and vibrate them, then open them. For example:
- Bob
- Babe
- Bib
- Bribe
- Bubble
- Balloon
- Banana
- Baby
- Boob
- Burp
The /T/ Sound
The /t/ sound is made by briefly touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth and then pulling it away. For example:
- Tap
- Tiger
- Tin
- Tight
- Tomato
- Turkey
- Taco
- Toupee
- Tutor
- Tiptoe
The /D/ Sound
To make the /d/ sound, touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth and vibrate it, then pull it away. For example:
- Dog
- Dime
- Dart
- Doodle
- Dragon
- Dress
- Duck
- Dwarf
- Diary
- Dancer
The /K/ Sound
The /k/ sound is made by briefly touching the back of your tongue to the soft palate at the back of the roof of your mouth. For example:
- Kangaroo
- Koala
- Kick
- Kiss
- Kite
- Kiwi
- Kettle
- Key
- Kangaroo
- Kitchen
The /G/ Sound
To make the /g/ sound, touch the back of your tongue to the soft palate, vibrate it, and then release. For example:
- Goat
- Giraffe
- Gum
- Girl
- Ghost
- Guitar
- Goose
- Gobble
- Giggle
- Gargle
Nasal Consonant Sounds
Nasal consonant sounds are made by releasing air through the nose. The three nasal sounds are: /M/, /N/, /Ng/
10 Examples of Each Nasal Consonants /M/, /N/, /Ng/
/M/
The /m/ sound is produced when air flows through your nose and vibrates your vocal cords. It’s a bilabial nasal consonant, meaning your lips come together to produce the sound. Some examples of /m/ include:
- Mom
- Mummy
- Mmm
- Moan
- Mop
- Mow
- Mug
- Mop
- Munch
- Mumble
/N/
The /n/ sound is also a nasal consonant produced when air flows through your nose, but this time, your tongue touches the alveolar ridge (the bony ridge behind your front teeth). Some examples of /n/ include:
- No
- Never
- Now
- Nail
- Net
- Nap
- Nose
- Neck
- Numb
- New
/Ng/
The /ŋ/ sound is a velar nasal consonant produced when the back of your tongue touches the soft palate (velum) and air flows through your nose. It is usually spelled as “ng” or “n” at the end of syllables. Some examples of /ŋ/ include:
- Sing
- Long
- King
- Bong
- Ding
- Dong
- Bang
- Tang
- Hang
- Ring
By understanding how these three nasal consonant sounds are produced, you’ll be better equipped to help students learn proper pronunciation and spelling.
Fricatives Consonant Sounds
Fricatives are consonant sounds made by constricting airflow, causing friction. In English, there are nine fricative consonants: /f, θ, s, ∫, v, ð, z, З, h/. All except /h/ are created by partially blocking airflow via the oral cavity.
10 Examples of Each Fricative Consonants /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/
/f/
- Fan
- Fish
- Fox
- Leaf
- Cough
- Enough
- Photograph
- Fluffy
- Fiction
- Figure
/v/
- Van
- Love
- Leave
- Above
- Dove
- Shove
- Move
- Valve
- Vase
- View
/s/
- Sun
- Sister
- Dismiss
- Muscle
- Scissor
- Science
- Descend
- Dissolve
- Dissuade
- Scissors
/z/
- Zoo
- Zigzag
- Zucchini
- Zookeeper
- Zephyr
- Zipper
- Zinc
- Zoologist
- Zebra
- Rise
/ʃ/
- Ship
- Shark
- Shampoo
- Rash
- Bush
- Hush
- Push
- Rush
- Bush
- Cash
/θ/
- Thin
- Thick
- Path
- Bath
- With
- Myth
- Booth
- Soothe
- Teeth
- Wreath
/ð/
- Then
- This
- Breathe
- Bathe
- Clothe
- Loathe
- Writhe
- Soothe
- Scythe
- Tithe
/ʒ/
- Pleasure
- Asia
- Beige
- Exposure
- Conclusion
- Usually
- Decision
- Visual
- Measure
- Television
/h/
- Ahead
- House
- Here
- Happen
- Hundred
- Has
- Him
- Behind
- Home
- Hurry
Mastering the pronunciation of these sounds will help you achieve a native-like accent and allow others to understand you clearly.
Affricate, Liquid, and Glide Consonant Sounds
Affricates are sounds that combine the features of plosives and fricatives. Liquids are sounds in which the air is blocked, but not as much as in stops and fricatives. The air escapes through the sides of the mouth, e.g. ( r, l). Glides are consonants that have no obstruction of pulmonic air; the speech organs do not make any form of contact. That is, they are like vowels [j], [ɥ], and [w]
10 Examples of Each Affricate, Liquid, and Glide Consonants /Ch/, /J/, /L/, /R/, /W/, /Y/
The affricate consonant /ch/ has a stop component followed by a fricative, as in:
- Church
- Chin
- Chug
- Champ
- Chap
- Charm
- Chum
- Chow
- Clamp
- Chant
The affricate consonant [d͡ʒ] has a stop component followed by a fricative, as in:
- Page
- Japan
- Jeans
- Jacket
- Juice
- Gentle
- Justice
- Jealous
- Edge
- Job
The liquid consonant /l/ is a lateral consonant, as in:
- Leaf
- Lose
- Leap
- Lullaby
- Lily
- Light
- Lollipop
- Life
- Lawn
- Lick
The liquid consonant /r/ is a tap or trill, as in:
- Red
- Run
- Rat
- Ram
- Ripe
- Rob
- Rope
- Rattle
- Ramble
- Rumpus
The glide consonant /w/ is a semivowel, as in:
- Wet
- Win
- Wow
- Wilt
- Weep
- Wobble
- Wallop
- Waffle
- Wallet
- Walrus
The glide consonant /y/ is a semivowel, as in:
- Yacht
- Yogurt
- Yam
- Yank
- Yawn
- Yelp
- Yes
- Yield
- Yellow
- Yummy
Spelling Rules for Words with Consonants
When spelling words with consonants, there are several rules to keep in mind. Following these guidelines will help ensure you spell words correctly and avoid common mistakes.
The first rule is that double consonants are used when a vowel precedes a consonant in a stressed syllable. For example, the double ‘p’ in ‘happen’ and the double ‘t’ in ‘letter.’ This also applies to suffixes like ‘-ing’. For example, ‘run’ becomes ‘running’, not ‘runing’.
Another rule is that ‘c’ is soft (makes an ‘s’ sound) when followed by ‘e,’ ‘i’, or ‘y’. For example, ‘city,’ ‘circus,’ and ‘cycle.’ The ‘c’ is hard (makes a ‘k’ sound) when followed by ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘u,’ or a consonant. For example, ‘cat,’ ‘cold,’ ‘cut,’ and ‘cloth.’
Be aware of common exceptions to spelling rules, such as ‘receive’ and ‘ceiling.’ English has many words borrowed from other languages, like ‘schism’ from Greek. Familiarize yourself with the origins and spellings of these loanwords.
Apostrophes are used to indicate possession or contractions. For possessives, use ‘s for singular nouns and ‘s for plural nouns that don’t end in ‘s.’ For example, ‘The Boy’s Book’ and ‘The Children’s Toys.’ For contractions, the apostrophe indicates omitted letters or numbers. For example, ‘don’t’ for ‘do not’ and ‘class of ’24’ for ‘class of 2024’.
Finally, remember that English has many homophonic words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. For example, ‘there,’ ‘their,’ ‘they’re,’ or ‘to,’ ‘too,’ and ‘two.’ Learn the proper spellings and meanings of commonly confused homophones.
By following these useful spelling rules and tips, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the consonants and becoming an expert speller. Let me know if you have any other questions!
The Importance of Mastering Consonant Sounds
Mastering consonant sounds is essential to speaking English clearly and confidently. Here are seven reasons why:
Pronunciation is key. The way you pronounce consonant sounds shapes how people perceive your accent and fluency. Mispronouncing or dropping consonants can make it difficult to understand. Focusing on consonant mastery helps ensure you are articulating words properly.
Vocabulary expands. As you practice different consonant sounds, you naturally learn new words containing those sounds. You start to recognize word roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Your vocabulary grows exponentially.
Listening improves. When you can produce the full range of consonant sounds, you also become better able to distinguish them in speech. You train your ear to hear subtle differences in pronunciation. Your listening comprehension improves as a result.
Accent reduction. If English is your second language, practicing consonant sounds helps you speak with a more native-like accent. You can minimize or lose your foreign accent by emulating the consonant and vowel sounds of American English.
Fluency increases. The more you practice consonant sounds, the more comfortable and confident you feel speaking English. You can start conversing spontaneously without pausing to think of the right words or pronunciations. Your speech flows smoothly and naturally.
Comprehension strengthens. When you know how to articulate consonant sounds properly, you understand English speech better. You can decode the sounds you’re hearing to determine the intended words and meaning. Comprehending native speech becomes second nature.
Versatility develops. Mastering consonant sounds allows you to speak English creatively by using different inflections, rhythms, and styles. You can adjust your speech based on the context and express a range of emotions through consonant sounds. Your speaking skills become highly versatile.
In short, focusing on consonant mastery brings significant benefits to your English pronunciation, listening, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. With regular practice of the 24 consonant sounds, you’ll communicate with confidence in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to learning about consonant sounds, you probably have a few questions. Here are some of the most common FAQs to help you get started.
How many consonant sounds are there in English?
There are 24 consonant sounds in the English language. These include stops like p, b, t, d, k, and g; fricatives such as f, v, s, z, sh, ch, and th; affricates like ch and j; nasals like m, n, and ng; liquids l and r; and glides w, y, and h.
Do consonant sounds change based on their position in a word?
Yes, consonant sounds can change depending on where they appear in a word. For example, the letter c is pronounced like an s when followed by e, i, or y (as in city or cymbal) but pronounced like a k when followed by a, o, u, or a consonant (as in cat or coat). The pronunciation of g also changes from a hard g (as in go) to a soft g (as in gem) based on the following vowel.
How do I know how to pronounce consonant combinations?
Some consonant combinations have their own unique pronunciations. The consonant digraphs ch, sh, th, and gh have distinct sounds, as do consonant blends like bl, br, cl, cr, dr, fl, fr, gl, gr, pl, pr, sc, sk, sl, sm, sn, sp, st, sw, tr, and tw. The best way to learn these is through practice and exposure.
Do consonant sounds ever get silent?
Yes, some consonant sounds become silent in certain positions or combinations. For example, the b in lamb, the k in knife, the l in calm, the t in castle, and the w in answer are all silent. Again, the only way to fully grasp silent consonant rules is through regular practice.
With time and practice, these consonant rules and pronunciations will become second nature. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while to master them all. Keep exploring examples, listening to others speak, and practicing in your own speech and writing.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the 24 consonant sounds with 10 examples for each one. From the subtle difference between “s” and “z” to the explosive “p” and “b,” we explored all the consonant sounds that make up the English language. You can use these examples to practice pronunciation or help teach someone else. The next time you’re reading or speaking, pay extra attention to the consonants. See if you can identify all 24 in a sentence or paragraph. Mastering consonants is an important step toward improving overall English fluency.