Pronunciation: /ˈkɑnsənənt/

Definitions of consonant

noun a basic speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed and which can be combined with a vowel to form a syllable

Example Sentences

A1 A consonant is a letter of the alphabet that is not a vowel.

A2 In English, the letter 'b' is a consonant.

B1 When pronouncing the word 'cat', the 'c' is a consonant sound.

B2 In linguistics, the study of consonants is known as phonetics.

C1 The English language has a variety of consonant sounds, each with different articulations.

C2 Understanding the phonological rules governing consonant clusters is essential for language learners.

adjective in agreement or harmony with

Example Sentences

A1 The word 'cat' starts with a consonant.

A2 She struggled with pronouncing words with multiple consonants.

B1 In English, 'b' and 'c' are examples of consonant letters.

B2 The student's speech was clear and precise, with a good balance of vowels and consonants.

C1 The linguist analyzed the distribution of consonant sounds in the language.

C2 The singer's flawless performance showcased her mastery of both vowels and consonants.

Examples of consonant in a Sentence

formal In English language, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract.

informal I always struggle with pronouncing words with multiple consonants in them.

slang I find it hard to keep up with all the different consonant sounds in different languages.

figurative His stoic demeanor was like a consonant presence amidst the chaos of the room.

Grammatical Forms of consonant

past tense

consonanted

plural

consonants

comparative

more consonant

superlative

most consonant

present tense

consonants

future tense

will consonant

perfect tense

have consonanted

continuous tense

is consonanting

singular

consonant

positive degree

consonant

infinitive

to consonant

gerund

consonanting

participle

consonanting

Origin and Evolution of consonant

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'consonant' originated from the Latin word 'consonans', which means 'sounding with'. It was derived from the verb 'consonare', which means 'to sound together'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'consonant' evolved to refer specifically to speech sounds that are produced with a partial or complete constriction of the vocal tract, as opposed to vowels. The concept of consonants has been further refined and categorized in the field of linguistics.