The document describes the English consonant sounds, classifying each by place and manner of articulation as well as voicing. Each consonant is defined and examples are provided. The consonants covered are b, d, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, ŋ, p, r, s, t, v, z, w, j, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ, θ, ð. Alternative notations for some consonants used by American authors are also noted. References on English phonetics and pronunciation are provided.

1. THE ENGLISH
CONSONANTS

2. Definition
 A consonant is a sound produced by a
partial or complete obstruction of the air
stream.
 It is classified by:
-Place of articulation;
-Manner of articulation;
-Voicing.
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

3. /b/
-It is a billabial, plossive and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: belong /bɪ´lɔng/
big /bɪg /
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

4. /d/
-It is an alveolar, plosive and voiced
consonant (devoiced at the end of a
word);
e.g.: Deep /di:p/
Independence /ɪndɪ´pɜndəns/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

5. /f/
-It is a Labiodental, fricative and devoiced
consonant;
e.g.: Find / faɪnd/
Laugh /læf /
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

6. /g/
- It is a velar, plosive and voiced consonant
(devoiced at the end of a word);
e.g.: Good /gʊd /
Forgive /fər´gɪv/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

7. /h/
-It is a glottal, plosive and unvoiced
consonant;
e.g.: Hello /hələʊ/
Behind /bɪ´haɪnd/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

8. /k/
-It is a velar, plosive and unvoiced
consonant;
e.g.: Cot / kɒt/
Pick /piːk/
*It can be aspirated at the bigining of a word
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

9. /L/
-It is an alveolar, lateral and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: Lip /lɪp/
Colonial /kə´ləʊniəl
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

10. /m/
-It is a bilabial, nasal and voiced consonant (
it may be unvoiced after /s/);
e.g.: Mine /maɪn/
Smart /sma:t/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

11. /n/
- It is an alveolar nasal and voiced
consonant (it may be unvoiced after /s/);
e.g.: Need /ni:d/
Snow /snəʊ/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

12. /ŋ/
- It is velar, nasal and voiced consonant;
e.g.: Sink /sɪŋk /
Long /lɒŋ/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

13. /p/
-It is a bilabial, plosive and unvoiced
consonant;
e.g.:Park /paːk/
Soup /suː p/
*it can be aspirated at the bigining of a word
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

14. /r/
-It is a post alveolar, an approximant and
voiced;
e.g.: Red /red/
Party /paːti
/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

15. /s/
- It is an alveolar, fricative and unvoiced
consonant;
e.g.: Simple /´sɪmpl/
Describe /dɪskraɪb/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

16. /t/
-It is an alveolar, plosive and unvoiced
consonant;
e.g.: Tongue /tʌŋ/
support /sə´pɔ:t/
*It can be aspirated at the bigining of a word
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

17. /v/
-It is a labiodental, fricative and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: Vizit / vɪzɪt/
Convince /kən´vɪns/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

18. /z/
-It is na alveolar, fricative and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: Zoo /zuː/
Lazy /leɪzɪ/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

19. /w/
-It is a bilabial , approximant and voiced
consonant (it is also considered “sime
vowel”);
e.g.: Wood /wʊd/
Hallway /hɔːlwe /
ɪ
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

20. /j/
- It is a palatal, approximant and voiced
consonant (it is also considered “sime
vowel”);
e.g.: Yes / jes/
ʒ
Usual /´juː uəl/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

21. /ʃ/
-It is a post alveolar, fricative and unvoiced consonant;
e.g.: Shop /ʃɒp/
Wash /wɒʃ/
* It can be represented by š (specially
American authors)
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

22. /ʒ/
 It is a post alveolar, fricative and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: Measure /´meʒər/
Beige /beɪʒ/
* It can be represented by ž (specially
American authors)
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

23. / tʃ /
- It is a post alveolar, affricative and
unvoiced consonant;
e.g.:Church /tʃɜː ʃ/
t
Chubby /´tʃʌbɪ/
* It can be represented by č (specially
American authors)
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

24. / dʒ /
- It is a post alveolar, affricative and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: Judge /dʒʌdʒ/
Large /laː ʒ/
d
* It can be represented by ǰ (specially
American authors)
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

25. /θ/
- It is a dental, fricative and unvoiced
consonant;
e.g.: Therapy /´θerəpi/
ɪ
Thesis /´θiːs s/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

26. /ð/
- It is a dental, fricative and voiced
consonant;
e.g.: That /ðæt/
Than /ðən/
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

27. Reference
 Roach, P. 1999: English Phonetics and
Phonology, Second Edition: A pratical
Course.Cambridge University Press, 0-
521-40718-4
 Souhila, M., & Mahiout, N.(2008).
Pronunciation and Spelling: All streams
and levels. Dar El Hadith Lil-
Kitab, 978994723254 5.
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV

28. Thank you!
***The end***
Carlos Alberto Vieira. English Studies, 3rd year - UNICV