IPA defintions

consonants

Made with complete closure or narrowing of vocal tract in some way.

vowels

Made with no obstruction in vocal tract (more sonorous than consonants)

glides

Rapidly articulated vowels, (yet, wet) pattern as consonants, tongue quickly glides from one position toward a following vowel

bilabial

a speech sound produced by bringing both lips together

labiodental

produced by bringing the lower lip into contact with the upper front teeth

interdental

a speech sound made by placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth

alveolar

made when the tongue touches or comes close to the alveolar ridge

post-alveolar

made when the tongue approaches or touches the area just behind the alveolar ridge

palatal

produced by raising the middle or front of the tongue toward or against the hard palate

velar

consonant sounds produced when the back part of the tongue (the dorsum) makes contact with or approaches the soft palate

glottal

speech sounds produced at the glottis

stop

consonant sounds made by completely blocking the airflow in the vocal tract and then releasing it with a sudden burst of air

fricative

produced by forcing air through a narrow channel in the vocal tract, creating audible turbulence or friction

affricate

consonant sounds that begin with a complete block of air (like a stop) and release slowly with turbulent friction noise (like a fricative) at the same place in the mouth

flap

sound made by a single quick strike of the tongue against the roof of the mouth

nasal

a speech sound produced by lowering the soft palate (the velum) so that air escapes freely through the nose

lateral liquid

sounds where the airstream flows around the sides of the tongue rather than down the middle

retroflex liquid

a speech sound produced by curling the tip or blade of the tongue slightly backward toward or past the alveolar ridge (the gum ridge behind the upper front teeth) while allowing air to flow smoothly around the tongue as a liquid consonant