Obstruent Apr 2026

Air is forced through a narrow passage, creating friction (e.g., /f, v, s, z, ʃ, h/).

An obstruent is a speech sound produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract, resulting in a complete or partial blockage that creates noise or friction. Unlike sonorants (such as vowels, nasals, or liquids) which allow air to flow relatively freely, obstruents are defined by their "tight" or "hissy" acoustic properties. Categories of Obstruents obstruent

They are marked by the presence of noise or silence during the constriction phase. Air is forced through a narrow passage, creating friction (e