Definition

Noun: A speech sound (consonant) produced without vibration of the vocal cords in the larynx. The airflow from the lungs passes through the vocal folds when they are held apart and open, creating only a noise-like, breathy sound.

Usage

This term is used in phonetics and linguistics to classify and describe speech sounds. It contrasts directly with "voiced consonant." * In English, the sounds /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/ (as in "ship"), and /θ/ (as in "thin") are voiceless consonants. * You can feel the difference by placing your fingers on your throat while saying a sustained "ssss" (voiceless) versus a sustained "zzzz" (voiced).

Examples

• The phonemes /p/ and /b/ are a voiceless-voiced pair.
• The word "pat" begins and ends with voiceless consonants (/p/ and /t/).
• In many languages, voiceless consonants at the end of a word are not released with a puff of air.

Advanced Usage

• Aspiration: Some voiceless consonants, like /p/, /t/, and /k/ in English, are often aspirated (released with a strong puff of air) at the beginning of a stressed syllable, as in "pin," "tin," "kit."
• Devoicing: A phonological process where a normally voiced consonant becomes voiceless in certain phonetic environments, such as at the end of a word in German (e.g., "Tag" is pronounced with a final /k/ sound).

Variants and Related Words

• Voicelessness (n): The state or quality of being voiceless.
• Unvoiced consonant (n): A synonym for voiceless consonant.
• Voiced consonant (n): The direct antonym; a consonant produced vocal cord vibration (e.g., /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /z/).

Synonyms

• Unvoiced consonant
• Surd (a less common, technical term)

Related Concepts

• Fortis: In some linguistic descriptions, voiceless consonants are described as "fortis" (strong) due to the greater muscular effort and breath force often involved.
• Phonation: The term for the process of producing vocal sound, of which voicelessness is one type.

Noun

1. a consonant produced without sound from the vocal cords