Consonants are sounds represented by letters. In the Portuguese language, there are 19 consonant letters: /b/, /c/, /d/, /f/, /g/, /j/, /k/, /l/, /m/, /n/, / p/, /q/, /r/, /s/, /t/, /v/, /w/, /x/, /z/.
The letter h is not a consonant, because it has no sound on its own (for example, today). It has a sound when it is part of the digraphs ch, lh, nh (eg key).
The letter y is also not a consonant, because it represents the sound of i (for example, yakisoba), so it has a vowel value.
In turn, the letter w can have a consonant value if it is pronounced like the letter v (as in oswald) or it can have a vowel value if it is pronounced like the letter u (as in show).
Consonants are sounds that when pronounced find a barrier within it, as their sound does not come out without being interrupted by the teeth or the tongue, for example. In the case of vowels, the sounds come out without interruption.
classification of consonants
Consonants can be:
- deaf or voiced
- oral or nasal
- stops or constrictives (fricatives, laterals or trills)
- bilabial, labiodental, linguodental, alveolar, palatal, or velar
Deaf or voiced
According to the vibration made by the vocal cords when consonants are spoken.
In the voiceless consonants vocal cords do not vibrate. Voiceless consonants are /p/, /t/, /k/, /c/, /q/, /s/, /f/, /x/. Examples: powder, uncle, house, seal, fairy, shampoo.
In the voiced consonants vocal cords vibrate. The voiced consonants are /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /z/, /s/, /j/, /l/, /r/, /R/ - sound of rr, / m/, /n/ (and also /lh/ and /nh/). Examples: ball, rooster, candle, Zé, game, macaw, spring, grandson, garlic, spider.
oral or nasal
According to the use of the nose and mouth when consonants are spoken.
To the oral consonants are all consonants, with the exception of /m/, /n/ (and also /nh/). Examples: bullet, dice, grape.
To the nasal consonants are /m/, /n/ (and also /nh/). Examples: suitcase, nothing, nail.
mode of articulation
It considers the barriers that sound encounters when leaving the mouth. The modes of articulation are: occlusive (/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /c/, /q/, /g/), when the sound encounters a total barrier on leaving the mouth, and constrictive, when sound encounters a partial barrier on leaving the mouth.
Constrictive consonants are divided into fricatives, laterals and trills.
- fricative consonants (/f/, /v/, /s/, /c/, /z/, /x/, /j/, /g/): when the air suffers resistance when emitting the sound that comes out of the mouth and makes a noise. Examples: knife, candle, seal, zeal, shawl, game.
- side consonants (/l/ - and also /lh/): when the air passes through the sides of the mouth when emitting the sound that comes out of it. Example: can, daughter.
- vibrant consonants (/r/, /R/ - rr sound): when the tongue and the back of the roof of the mouth vibrate during the emission of the sound that comes out of the mouth. Examples: expensive, car.
point of articulation
It considers the place in the mouth where the barrier that interrupts the output of the sound is. The points of articulation are: bilabial, labiodental, linguodental, alveolar, palatal and velar.
- bilabial consonants (/p/, /b/, /m/): when lips touch during sound output. Examples: shovel, ball, suitcase.
- labiodental consonants (/f/, /v/): when the lower lip touches the upper front teeth during sound output. Examples: faith, veil.
- lingual consonants (/t/, /d/): when the tongue touches the upper front teeth during sound output. Examples: ceiling, finger.
- alveolar consonants (/s/, /c/, /z/, /l/, /n/, /r/, /R/ - rr sound): when the tongue touches the root of the upper front teeth during sound output. Examples: salt, glue, zebra, moon, ship, macaw, car.
- palatal consonants (/x/, /j/, /g/ - and also /ch/, /lh/ and /nh/): when the tongue touches the roof of the mouth during sound output. Examples: syrup, window, jelly, rain, island, nest.
- velar consonants (/k/, /c/, /q/, /g/): when the tongue touches the back of the roof of the mouth during sound output. Examples: thing, rooster, drain.
Read too: consonant clusters
Bibliographic references
CEGALLA, Domingos Paschoal. Brand new grammar of the Portuguese language. 48. ed. São Paulo: Companhia Editora Nacional, 2010.
NETO, Pasquale Cipro; INFANT, Ulysses. Portuguese Language Grammar. 3. ed. São Paulo: Scipione, 2009.
FERNANDES, Marcia. What are the consonants and their classifications.All Matter, [n.d.]. Available in: https://www.todamateria.com.br/quais-sao-as-consoantes-e-as-suas-classificacoes/. Access at:
See too
- Vowel, Semivowel and Consonant
- Questions and answers about vocal encounters
- What are phonemes (with examples)
- Vocal Encounters
- General knowledge questions and answers
- 15 Popular Games That Teach And Kids Love
- Vowels (classification and examples)
- Phoneme and Letter
