Consonant sounds play a crucial role in the English language,
contributing to the clarity and understanding of spoken words. Unlike
vowel sounds that involve a relatively open airflow, consonant sounds
are produced when airflow is obstructed or restricted in some way. This
obstruction can occur at different points in the vocal tract, such as
the lips, teeth, tongue, or the back of the throat.
1. Simple Consonant Sounds:
Simple consonant sounds are those that are pronounced without any additional combination of sounds.
Examples:
| 🔊 | /p/, /t/, /k/, /m/, /n/, /s/, /l/, /r/. |
2. Doubled Consonant Sounds:
Some consonants have a doubled form in which their duration is extended.
Examples:
/pp/ (as in "apple"), /tt/ (as in "better"), /kk/ (as in "book").
| 🔊 | apple |
| 🔊 | better |
| 🔊 | book |
3. Fricative Consonant Sounds:
Fricative consonant sounds are produced by allowing air to flow through a constriction in the mouth.
Examples:
/f/ (as in "fantastic"), /v/ (as in "very"), /s/ (as in "sun"), /z/ (as in "zoo").
| 🔊 | fantastic |
| 🔊 | very |
| 🔊 | sun |
4. Nasal Consonant Sounds:
Nasal consonant sounds are produced by allowing air to flow through the nose while blocking the mouth.
Examples:
/m/ (as in "mother"), /n/ (as in "nice"), /ng/ (as in "song").
| 🔊 | mother |
| 🔊 | nice |
| 🔊 | song |
5.Occlusive Consonant Sounds:
Occlusive consonant sounds are produced by completely blocking the airflow and then releasing it.
Examples:
/p/ (as in "pen"), /b/ (as in "ball"), /t/ (as in "top"), /d/ (as in "dog"), /k/ (as in "cat"), /g/ (as in "go").
| 🔊 | ball |
| 🔊 | top |
| 🔊 | dog |
| 🔊 | cat |
| 🔊 | go |
6. Liquid Consonant Sounds:
Liquid consonant sounds are characterized by smooth, unobstructed airflow.
Examples:
/l/ (as in "love"), /r/ (as in "red").
| 🔊 | love |
| 🔊 | red |
7. Final Consonantal Sounds:
Some final consonant sounds may have different pronunciations depending on context and region.
Examples:
final "t" in "cat" is pronounced differently than final "t" in "sit".
| 🔊 | cat |
| 🔊 | sit |
It is important to practice the pronunciation of these consonant sounds and to become familiar with their specific rules and uses. Accurate pronunciation of consonant sounds can improve clarity and comprehension in spoken English.
Listen and practice:
Vocabulary:
| Word 1 | Word 2 | Differing Consonant Sound | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔊 | Ship | Sheep | /ʃ/ vs. /s/ |
| 🔊 | Book | Cook | /b/ vs. /k/ |
| 🔊 | Time | Dime | /t/ vs. /d/ |
| 🔊 | Fine | Vine | /f/ vs. /v/ |
| 🔊 | Light | Right | /l/ vs. /r/ |
| 🔊 | Top | Cop | /t/ vs. /k/ |
| 🔊 | Jump | Dump | /dʒ/ vs. /d/ |
| 🔊 | Ship | Chip | /ʃ/ vs. /tʃ/ |
| 🔊 | Sink | Think | /s/ vs. /θ/ |
| 🔊 | Sing | Thing | /s/ vs. /θ/ |
More words with diferent consonant sound:
| /s/ | /z/ | /p/ | /k/ | /m/ | /n/ | /l/ | /r/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun | Zoo | Pig | Cat | Mouse | Nose | Lion | Rabbit |
Sit | Zip | Pen | Key | Mom | Net | Leaf | Rain |
Sail | Zero | Park | Kite | Moon | Nail | Lamp | Ring |
Snake | Zebra | Pencil | Cake | Music | Nest | Lemon | Road |
Bus | Buzz | Pop | Cup | Monkey | Nut | Lip | Rope |
Kiss | Lazy | Puppy | King | Name | Lake | Rose | |
Glass | Puzzle | Paper | Car | Map | Note | Lollipop | Robot |
Dress | Crazy | Pillow | Clock | Milk | Night | Little | Radio |
Mist | Size | Puddle | Cookie | Muffin | Nurse | Lizard | Rocket |
Grass | Fuzzy | Pumpkin | Kick | Marker | Napkin | Ladder | Ruler |
Speak:
Speaking
Practice your pronunciation, repeat each of the words you have trouble pronouncing and identify the difference in pronunciation.
Activity
1. Listen the following words and decide which is their consonant sound:
| 🔊 | Cat | |
| 🔊 | Fan | |
| 🔊 | Van | |
| 🔊 | Bell | |
| 🔊 | Tell | |
| 🔊 | Pen | |
| 🔊 | Ten | |
| 🔊 | Clock | |
| 🔊 | Rock |
