English Consonants

Consonants are sounds made by obstructing airflow in some way as it leaves the body. English has 24 consonant sounds that can be categorized by voicing, place, and manner of articulation.

About English Consonants

Consonants are classified by three main features: whether they are voiced (vocal cords vibrate) or voiceless (vocal cords don't vibrate), their place of articulation (where in the mouth they're formed), and their manner of articulation (how the sound is produced physically).

Click on any consonant sound below to see detailed pronunciation guides, mouth position diagrams, and practice examples.

Fricatives