Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
obstruent
noun
/ˈɒbstruənt/
Definition
A speech sound that obstructs airflow in the vocal tract, making it difficult for air to pass freely.
Examples
- The sounds ‘p’, ‘t’, and ‘k’ are examples of obstruents that create a complete closure in the vocal tract.
- In the word ‘stop’, the ‘s’ and ‘t’ are both obstruent sounds.
Meaning
In phonetics, an obstruent is a consonant that is produced by obstructing airflow in some way, which can create a range of sounds depending on the nature and extent of the obstruction.
Synonyms
- Obstructive sound
- Consonant
- Cadent
