Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

affricate

Noun
/ˈæf.rɪ.keɪt/
Definition
A consonant sound that begins as a stop and releases as a fricative.
Examples
  • The sound ‘ch’ in ‘church’ is an example of an affricate.
  • In English, the affricates are typically represented by the sounds /tʃ/ and /dʒ/.
Meaning
Affricate refers to a type of consonant that starts with a complete closure of the vocal tract and then releases into a fricative sound, combining elements of both a stop and a fricative.
Synonyms
  • None directly, but related terms include ‘stop consonant’ and ‘fricative’.