IPA Articulatory Descriptions

voiced sounds

sounds made with the vocal folds vibrating

voiceless sounds

produced without vocal fold vibration

bilabial

two lips together

labiodental

top teeth against bottom lip

alveolar

blade or tip of tongue at or near the alveolar ridge

post alveolar

tongue between the alveolar ridge and palate

palatal

body of tongue at or near palate

velar

back of tongue at or near velum

glottal

no point of contact [h]

stop

momentary complete block of air through oral tract

fricative

obstruction of the air flow without complete blockage

affricate

starts with total blockage of air, but opens gradually

flap

tongue moves quickly, tapping the alveolar ridge

nasal

air goes out from the nose instead of the mouth

approximants

articulators approach one another but dont make contact

/p/

voiceless bilabial stop

/b/

voiced bilabial stop

/t/

voiceless alveolar stop

/d/

voiced alveolar stop

/k/

voiceless velar stop

/g/

voiced velar stop

/ʔ/

voiceless glottal stop

/ɸ/

voiceless bilabial fricative

/β/

voiced bilabial fricative

/f/

voiceless labiodental fricative

/v/

voiced labiodental fricative

/θ/

voiceless interdental fricative

/ð/

voiced interdental fricative

/s/

voiceless alveolar fricative

/z/

voiced alveolar fricative

/ʃ/

voiceless postalveolar fricative

/ʒ/

voiced postalveolar fricative

/ç/

voiceless palatal fricative

/x/

voiceless velar fricative

/ɣ/

voiced velar fricative

/ʁ/

voiced uvular fricative

/h/

voiceless glottal fricative

/ts/

voiceless alveolar affricate

/dz/

voiced alveolar affricate

/t͡ʃ/

voiceless postalveolar affricate

/d͡ʒ/

voiced postalveolar affricate

/m/

voiced bilabial nasal

/n/

voiced alveolar nasal

/ɲ/

voiced palatal nasal

/ŋ/

voiced velar nasal

/w/

voiced bilabial approximant

/r/

voiced central approximant

/l/

voiced lateral approximant

/j/

voiced palatal approximant