Consonant Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ถ
consonant
[หkษns(ษ)nษnt ]
Definitions
linguistic term
A speech sound that is not a vowel. Consonants are produced by restricting the airflow in some way, typically by placing one or more obstacles in the path of the airstream.
Synonyms
consonantal sound.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| consonant |
This term is used in general linguistics to refer to any speech sound that is not a vowel. It can also be used metaphorically to mean 'in agreement' or 'harmonious.'
|
Examples of usage
- English has 21 consonant sounds.
- Consonants can be voiced or voiceless.
- She struggled with the pronunciation of certain consonants.
musical term
A harmonious sound produced by two or more musical notes played or sung together.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| consonant |
This word is often used in a literary or formal context to describe something that is in agreement or harmony. It's also a term in phonetics referring to a speech sound.
|
| agreement |
Commonly employed in everyday conversation, business, law, and diplomacy to denote consensus or a formal arrangement between parties.
|
Examples of usage
- The choir sang in beautiful consonance.
- The piano piece ended with a lovely consonant chord.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Linguistics
- Consonants can be classified by their manner of articulation, meaning how they are produced in the mouth (e.g., stops, fricatives).
- Some consonants can be voiced, meaning they use vocal cords (like 'b'), while others are voiceless (like 'p').
- Different languages have unique sets of consonants, which can influence how languages sound and are spoken.
Education
- Teaching consonants is crucial in early literacy, helping children learn to decode words by blending sounds.
- Phonics programs often focus on consonant sounds to help kids understand word structures and spelling.
- Consonant blends, like 'bl' in 'blue' or 'str' in 'street', are combinations of two or more consonants that create distinct sounds.
Psychology
- Research shows that the consonants we hear and use can affect our perception of words and their meanings.
- The brain processes consonant sounds differently from vowels, often making them key to understanding speech.
- Certain consonant sounds are associated with specific emotions in spoken language, influencing communication.
Pop Culture
- Popular songs often repeat consonant sounds to create catchy rhythms and memorable lyrics.
- The branding of products can leverage consonant sounds to create a strong identity (like 'K' strong in 'Kool').
- In the world of games and movies, catchy titles often play with consonant sounds to make them more appealing.
Origin of 'consonant'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'consonans', which means 'sounding together', highlighting how consonants work with vowels.
- Consonants are contrasted with vowels, which are the open sounds (A, E, I, O, U) in languages.
- In English, there are 21 consonants, and they can create different sounds depending on their placement in words.
The word 'consonant' originated from the Latin 'consonans', which means 'sounding with'. In the linguistic sense, it has been used since the 14th century to describe speech sounds that are not vowels. In the musical context, it refers to harmonious sounds created by combining multiple notes.