Consonant

What Are Consonants?

Consonants are special sounds we make when we speak. They are different from vowels. To make consonants, we block or partly block the air coming out of our mouth. This makes fun sounds like p, b, t, and d.

How We Make Consonants

We use different parts of our mouth to make consonants. For example:

• We use our lips to make sounds like p and b.
• Our front tongue helps us make t and d.
• The back of the tongue makes sounds like k and g.

Some consonants, like f, v, s, and z, are made by forcing air through a narrow space. Others, like m and n, let air flow through the nose.

Fun Facts About Consonants

• There are many more consonant sounds than letters in any alphabet. This is why we sometimes use two letters together, like sh or ch, to make one sound.
• Some languages have lots of consonants. The Ubykh language had 84 consonants!
• Not all languages use the same consonants. For example, some languages do not use the sound p at all.

Consonants are an important part of how we speak and understand each other. Next time you talk, try making some consonant sounds and see how they change the way you speak!