Obstruent 【Fast · 2027】

Obstruents frequently occur in pairs—one voiced (vocal folds vibrate) and one voiceless (no vibration)—such as /s/ vs. /z/ or /t/ vs. /d/.

They are marked by the presence of noise or silence during the constriction phase. obstruent

They produce a significant increase in air pressure inside the mouth compared to the surrounding air. Obstruent vs. Sonorant if it feels smooth (like "mmmm")

Obstruent vs. Sonorant Consonants in Phonetics ... - Facebook obstruent

💡 If a sound feels like it "squeezes" the air (like "ssss") it’s an obstruent; if it feels smooth (like "mmmm"), it’s a sonorant. Advanced Phonological Features

In phonetics, obstruents are divided into three main "flavors" based on how the air is managed: