Definition

Noun: 1. A speech sound characterized by obstruction of airflow: An obstruent is a consonant sound produced by creating a significant constriction or complete closure in the vocal tract, impeding the outward flow of air from the lungs. This obstruction creates audible friction, a burst of sound, or both.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The sounds /p/, /t/, and /k/ are voiceless obstruents.
  • In the word "stop," both the initial /s/ and the final /p/ are obstruents.
  • Fricatives like /f/ and /s/ are a major class of obstruents.

Advanced Usage

• Phonological Context: In phonology, obstruents are often contrasted with sonorants (like vowels, nasals, and liquids), which are produced with relatively open airflow and greater vocal tract resonance. A key phonological rule in English is that obstruents are devoiced when they occur at the end of a word (e.g., the final /b/ in "cab" sounds more like /p/).

Variants and Related Words

• Obstruent is primarily used as a noun. The related adjective is obstruent, used in technical linguistic descriptions (e.g., "obstruent consonants").
• Plosive/Stop: A type of obstruent involving complete closure and a release burst (e.g., /p, b, t, d, k, g/).
• Fricative: A type of obstruent involving a narrow constriction creating turbulent airflow (e.g., /f, v, s, z, ʃ/).
• Affricate: A type of obstruent that begins as a plosive and releases as a fricative (e.g., /tʃ/ as in "chip," /dʒ/ as in "judge").

Synonyms

• Consonant (in a specific, technical sense): While all obstruents are consonants, not all consonants are obstruents. This synonym is accurate only when referring to the broader category.
• Non-sonorant: A technical term highlighting the contrast with sonorant sounds.

Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Manner of Articulation: The way airflow is modified to produce a speech sound. "Obstruent" describes a major manner class.
• Voice/voiceless distinction: Obstruents commonly occur in voiced/voiceless pairs (e.g., /p/ vs. /b/, /s/ vs. /z/).
• Sonorant: The direct phonological opposite of an obstruent; a sound produced with unimpeded airflow.

Noun

1. a consonant that is produced with a partial or complete blockage of the airflow from the lungs through the nose or mouth