Consonants - Definition, Uses, Examples

What are Consonants?

Consonants are the letters in the English alphabet that are not vowels. The vowels are A, E, I, O, and U. All the other letters are called consonants.

Here is a list of the 21 consonants in English:

B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z

These letters are called consonants because of how we say them. When we say a consonant sound, the air in our mouth is blocked a little by our tongue, teeth, or lips.

Let’s try saying these words slowly:

• Ball

• Cat

• Jump

You will feel your lips and tongue move in a certain way. That’s the use of consonant sounds.

Read More: Sentence Structure

Consonant Meaning in English

In English, a consonant is a speech sound made by blocking the flow of air in some way. We block the air by using our lips, teeth, or tongue.

For example:

• The letter P is a consonant. Try saying the word pen. You can feel your lips come together.

• The letter S is a consonant. When you say sun, your tongue touches your teeth gently.

So, the consonant meaning in English is both about the letter and the sound we make.

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Examples Consonant Words for Kids

Let’s see some easy examples of consonant words that you can practice with. These words are great for spelling games and reading practice.

These examples of consonant words are fun to learn and use every day.

Read More: Words That Start With K

Frequently Used Consonant Words in English

We use many consonant words every day when we speak, read, and write. These words help us build clear sentences. Below are some of the most commonly used consonant words in daily conversation.

5-Letter Consonant Words with Meanings

Here is a list of 5-letter words that have more consonants than vowels. These words help young learners understand how consonants shape word sounds.

These 5-letter words contain many consonants and are great for reading practice.

Read More: Spelling Rules

6-Letter Consonant Words with Meanings

These 6-letter words are a bit more challenging. Some may have no vowels (only the letter Y acting as a vowel sound). These are unusual but interesting for children to explore.

 Note: Many of these words do not contain traditional vowels (A, E, I, O, U), but use Y to create vowel-like sounds. These words show how vowels and consonants work in creative ways in English.

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What Are Double Consonants?

Sometimes, a word has two of the same consonant letters side by side. This is called a double consonant.

Examples of double consonants:

• Rabbit

• Happen

• Coffee

• Tennis

• Happy

Double consonants often come in the middle of a word. They help with spelling and change the way a word sounds.

For example:

• Hop becomes Hopping (we double the P)

• Run becomes Running (we double the N)

Learning double consonants can help you become a better speller.

Vowels and Consonants Difference 

To understand consonants, we must also know about vowels. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet. Only five of them are vowels: A, E, I, O, U . The rest are consonants.

Vowels and consonants work together to form words. Every word in English has at least one vowel. Vowels make the sound flow, while consonants give words shape and power.

For example:

• Dog has two consonants (D, G) and one vowel (O)

• Jump has three consonants (J, M, P) and one vowel (U)

Together, vowels and consonants help us pronounce and spell words correctly.

Read more: Find Difference Between Consonants and Vowels?

What Are Consonant Blends?

A consonant blend is when two or three consonants appear together, and each one keeps its own sound. Let’s look at some common consonant blends:

Beginning Blends:

• Bl – black, blue, blink

• Cr – crab, cry, crop

• Tr – tree, trip, truck

• Sp – spin, spot, spoon

Ending Blends:

• -nd – hand, bend, send

• -mp – jump, camp, lamp

• -st – fast, best, mist

When reading, you will hear both sounds in a blend. For example, in crab, you can hear both C and R sounds. Practicing blends helps children read longer words easily.

Read More: Difference Between Adverb and Adjective

Fun Activities to Learn Consonants in English 

Learning consonants can be fun. Here are some simple activities you can try at home or in class:

Consonant Word Bingo: Make bingo cards with consonant words like cat, lamp, fish, and jump. Call out the words and let children mark them.

Sort the Letters: Give kids flashcards with letters. Ask them to sort them into vowels and consonant piles.

Double Consonant Hunt: Find double consonant words in a book or newspaper and write them down.

Build a Blend: Use letter tiles or blocks to build blend words like stop, trap, or clip.

These games make learning about consonants interesting and memorable.

Also read: List of Five Letter Words in English

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