spirant

[ˈspaɪrənt]

spirant Definition

a speech sound produced by narrowing but not blocking the air flow through the vocal tract.

Using spirant: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "spirant" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The English 'f' and 'v' are examples of spirants.

  • Example

    Spirants are often contrasted with stops, which completely block the airflow.

spirant Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for spirant

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Summary: spirant in Brief

A 'spirant' [ˈspaɪrənt] is a type of speech sound that is produced by narrowing but not blocking the air flow through the vocal tract. Examples of spirants in English include 'f' and 'v'. They are often contrasted with stops, which completely block the airflow.