How Consonant Sounds Are Produced

how consonant sounds are produced

It's useful for parents who wish to be good speech models for their children to know not only how speech is "made," but, in particular, how consonant sounds are produced.

These sounds originate by our moving the articulators (lips, tongue, teeth, hard and soft palates) in very specific ways detailed below:

p -- (voiceless) Press your lips together. Pop them open to let out a puff of air. (pail, apple, lamp)

b -- (voiced) Press your lips together. Pop them open to let out a puff of air. Use your voice. (boat, rabbit, knob)

t -- (voiceless) Press your tongue tip on the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Keep your lips parted. Lower your tongue quickly and let out a puff of breath. (toy, little, sit)

d -- (voiced) Press your tongue tip on the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Keep your lips parted. Lower your tongue quickly and let out a puff of air. Use your voice.

m -- (voiced) Place your lips together. Hum through your nose. This is a nasal sound. (moon, lemon, drum)

n -- (voiced) Press your tongue tip on the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Hum through your nose. This is a nasal sound. (nurse, piano, sun)

ng -- (voiced) Lift the back of your tongue up to the soft palate. Hum through your nose. This is a nasal sound. (finger, king)

wh -- (voiceless) Round your lips to form a small opening. Let the air come through. (why, when, white)

w -- (voiced) Round your lips to form a small opening. Let the air coome through. Use your voice. (wood, quiet, someone)

h -- (voiceless) Open your mouth and let the air come out as if you were sighing or panting. (heavy, hair, hand)

k -- (voiceless) Lift the back of your tongue to your soft palate. Drop your tongue quickly and let out a breath. (car, basket, book)

g -- (voiced) Lift the back of your tongue to your soft palate. Drop your tongue quickly and let out a breath. Use your voice. (girl, wagon, bag)

y -- (voiced) Raise the middle of your tongue and lower the tip behind your bottom front teeth as you would to make the "ee" sound. Use your voice. (yarn, music)

f -- (voiceless) Put your upper teeth lightly on your lower lip. Let the air come out through the opening between your teeth and lip. (fish, elephant, leaf)

v -- (voiced) Put your upper teeth lightly on your lower lip. Let the air come out through the opening between your teeth and lip. Use your voice. (vest, television, stove)

th -- (voiceless) Place the tip of your tongue lightly against your upper front teeth so that your tongue protrudes slightly. Let the air come out through the opening between your tongue and teeth. (thread, toothbrush, mouth)

th -- (voiced) Place the tip of your tongue lightly against your upeer front teeth so that your tongue protrudes slightly. Let the air come out through the opening between your tongue and teeth. Use your voice. (this, mother, breathe)

l -- (voiced) Press your tongue tip on the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Use your voice, keeping your tongue in this position. (lamp, umbrella, hill)

s-- (voiceless) Lift your tongue tip near the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Widen your tongue so the sides gently touch the inside of your upper teeth. Open your teeth slightly and spread your lips in a little smile. Blow the air down a groove in the center of your tongue through the space between your tongue tip and gum ridge. This sound may also be made by placing your tongue near the gum ridge behind your lower teeth. (soda, pencil, dress)

z -- (voiced) Lift your tongue tip near the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Widen your tongue so the sides gently touch the inside of your upper teeth. Open your teeth slightly and spread your lips in a little smile. Blow the air down a groove in the center of your tongue through the space between your tongue tip and gum ridge. This sound may also be made by placing your tongue near the gum ridge behind your lower teeth. Use your voice. (zebra, present, nose)

sh -- (voiceless) Lift your tongue tip near the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Move your tongue back somewhat so the sides touch the insides of your upper teeth. Move your lips forward. Blow the air down the middle of your tongue. (shoe, dishes, fish)

zh -- (voiced) Lift your tongue tip near the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Move your tongue back somewhat so that the sides touch the insides of your upper teeth. Move your lips forward. Blow the air down the middle of your tongue. Use your voice. (division, rouge)

ch -- (voiceless) This sound combines the "t" and "sh" sounds. Press your tongue tip on the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Move your lips forward. Remove your tongue quickly and let out a puff of breath as you change from the "t" to the "sh" placement. (cheese, teacher, watch)

j -- (voiced) This sound combines the "d" and "zh" sounds. Press your tongue tip on the gum ridge behind your upper teeth. Move your lips forward. Remove your tongue quicky and let out a puff of breath as you change from the "d" to the "zh" placement. Use your voice. (jacket, angel, bridge)

r -- (voiced) Lift your tongue tip and curl it slightly back toward the top of your mouth. Curve the sides of your tongue upward to touch the insides of your upper teeth. Raise the back of your tongue toward your soft palate. Use your voice. (rain, arrow, car)