Obstruent -

Air is blocked completely and then released (e.g., /p, b, t, d, k, g/).

To understand what an obstruent is, it helps to see what it is . In linguistic terms, they are formally marked as [-sonorant] . Obstruents Airflow Restricted or blocked Relatively free Sound Quality Noisy, turbulent Resonant, musical Voicing Often voiceless Prototypically voiced Examples /p, f, tʃ/ /m, l, w, vowels/

They are marked by the presence of noise or silence during the constriction phase. obstruent

In phonetics, obstruents are divided into three main "flavors" based on how the air is managed:

A combination that begins like a stop and releases into a fricative (e.g., /tʃ/ as in "church," /dʒ/ as in "judge"). Key Characteristics Air is blocked completely and then released (e

Obstruents frequently occur in pairs—one voiced (vocal folds vibrate) and one voiceless (no vibration)—such as /s/ vs. /z/ or /t/ vs. /d/.

They produce a significant increase in air pressure inside the mouth compared to the surrounding air. Obstruent vs. Sonorant /z/ or /t/ vs

💡 If a sound feels like it "squeezes" the air (like "ssss") it’s an obstruent; if it feels smooth (like "mmmm"), it’s a sonorant. Advanced Phonological Features