The

Consonants of American English

Where do we say the sound?
Both lips Top lip & Between the Behind the Roof of the Back of the Down in the
How do we say the
bottom teeth teeth teeth mouth mouth throat
sound?

(Linguistics terms are
in italics)

Bilabial Labiodental Interdental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Popping sounds
voiced: voiced: voiced:
/b/ boy /d/ dog // go

voiceless: voiceless: voiceless:

/p/ pie /t/ toy /k/ kitchen
Stops
Hissing sounds
voiced: voiced: voiced: voiced:
/v/ van // this /z/ zoo // beige

voiceless: voiceless: voiceless: voiceless: voiceless:
/f/ fish // think /s/ sat // ship /h/ house
Fricatives
Pop & hiss sounds
voiced:
// jam

voiceless:
// chip
Affricates
Humming sounds

voiced: voiced: voiced:

/m/ map /n/ no // sing

Nasals

Flowing sounds
voiced: voiced:
/l/ lamp /r/ red

voiced: voiced:

/w/ wet /y/ yes
Liquids & Glides