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Glite Dictionary
continuant consonant

continuant consonant

7.4
A speech sound made by narrowing the mouth so air keeps flowing
  • noun
  • /kənˈtɪn.ju.ənt ˈkɒn.sənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : consonante continuante
  • The English 'v' is classified as a continuant consonant because air flows through the mouth without complete obstruction.

Examples

  • Students learned to distinguish a continuant consonant from a stop during their linguistics lesson.

  • The English 's' is an example of a continuant consonant because it can be sustained while the airflow is unimpeded.

  • Fricatives like continuant consonant sounds are common in European languages.

  • The sound continuant consonant is essential in phonetics.

  • A continuant consonant allows airflow without complete blockage.

  • In phonetics class, students practiced making continuant consonant sounds to improve their pronunciation skills.

  • Many languages feature continuant consonant sounds, which enhance the fluidity of speech.

Synonyms

fricative
vscontinuant consonant
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A consonant sound made when air passes through a small gap, like f or s

is more general, covering continuous sounds whether friction is present or not
continuant
vscontinuant consonant
  • Specialized
8.8

A consonant sound made by narrowing the mouth so air keeps flowing, for example f, v, and l

is the term for a consonant produced by a continuous narrow passage
fricative consonant
vscontinuant consonant
  • Specialized
7.5

A speech sound you make by forcing breath through a narrow gap, like s or f

is broader, including sounds without strong friction but with continuous airflow
spirant
vscontinuant consonant
  • Specialized
9.9

A consonant sound made by pushing air through a small opening in the mouth, like f or s

includes both friction sounds and those without friction produced with continuous airflow

Antonyms

stop consonant
  • Specialized
6.3

A sound you make when you block air and then let it out quickly

How Continuous

fricative
  • Specialized
1 8.0
continuant consonant
  • Specialized
7.4
approximant
  • Specialized
8.4
affricate
  • Specialized
9.9
stop consonant
  • Specialized
6.3

Surface Forms

continuant consonant singular
continuant consonants plural

Morphology

continuant + consonant

The meaning is directly compositional: 'continuant' describes a type that permits airflow and 'consonant' is a speech sound, so together they mean a consonant that is continuant. Although the term is technical, the noun–noun combination follows regular English compounding and is therefore understandable to a learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

The term continuant consonant comes from the idea of a continuant (something that keeps going) and a consonant (a speech sound). Imagine air moving through a small gap in the mouth so the sound does not stop, and you have the picture behind the term. So, it means 'a consonant sound where the mouth is narrow but not fully closed, so the air flows continuously'.