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All the letters in the alphabet are either consonants or vowels. A consonant is a speech sound in which the air is at least partly blocked, and any letter which represents this.[1] Consonants may come singly (by themselves) or in clusters (two or more together), but must be connected to a vowel to form a syllable.

Notice that the consonant (C) and vowel (V) notation does NOT match the letters of English spelling in a one-to-one relationship (e.g. 'th' is one sound), but rather individual sounds.

Words with single consonants include:

  • Go (CV), which has one consonant and one vowel in that order
  • On (VC), which has one vowel and one consonant in that order
  • Ton (CVC), which has a consonant, a vowel, and another consonant in that order

Words with consonant clusters include:

  • Pro (CCV), which has two consonants in-a-row and one vowel afterwards
  • Old (VCC), which has one vowel and two consonants in-a-row afterwards
  • Spree (CCCV), which has three consonants in-a-row and one vowel afterwards
  • Arcs (VCCC), which has one vowel and three consonants in-a-row afterwards
  • Strengths (CCCVCCCC), which has three consonants in-a-row, one vowel afterwards, and finally four consonants in a row




  1. Concise Oxford English Dictionary.
  2. Sound pronounced with the vibration of the vocal cords
  3. Sound pronounced without the vibration of the vocal cords
IPA pulmonic consonants chartchart image • Loudspeaker.svg audio
Where the sound is made → Labial



(Tip of Tongue)


(Middle of Tongue)


(Base of Tongue)



↓ How the sound is made Bila​bial

(Both Lips)


(Lips and Teeth)




(Against Ridge behind Teeth)


(Back of Ridge behind Teeth)


(Roof of Mouth)


(Roof of Mouth)


(Back Roof of Mouth)









Nasal m ɱ n ɳ ɲ ŋ ɴ
Approximant ʋ ɹ ɻ j ɰ
Trill ʙ r  * ʀ я *
Flap or tap ⱱ̟ ɾ ɽ ɢ̆ ʡ̯
Lateral Fric. ɬ ɮ ɭ˔̊ ʎ̥˔ ʟ̝̊
Lateral Appr. l ɭ ʎ ʟ
Lateral flap ɺ ɺ̢ * ʎ̯
Non-pulmonic consonants
Clicks ʘ ǀ ǃ ǂ ǁ
Implosives ɓ ɗ ʄ ɠ ʛ
tsʼ tɬʼ tʃʼ kxʼ kʼ
p̪f ts dz ʈʂ ɖʐ
Co-articulated consonants
Fricatives ɕ ʑ ɧ
Approximants ʍ w ɥ ɫ
Stops k͡p ɡ͡b ŋ͡m
Shaded areas show the pulmonic consonants which are impossible to pronounce.
* Symbol not in IPA.