Approximant consonant facts for kids

An approximant consonant is a special type of consonant sound. It's made by bringing two parts of your mouth close together, but not so close that they block the air completely. Think of it as a sound that's somewhere between a regular consonant and a vowel.

For example, the "l" sound in "like" and the "r" sound in "right" are approximants. So are the "y" sound in "yes" and the "w" sound in "wet". When you make these sounds, air flows smoothly out of your mouth. It's not squeezed like in a "f" or "s" sound (which are called fricative consonants). And your mouth parts aren't wide open like when you say a vowel.

What are Approximant Consonants?

Approximant consonants are unique because of how they are made. Your tongue or lips get close to another part of your mouth, like the roof of your mouth. But they don't touch or block the air. This lets the air flow out without much noise or friction.

Imagine a narrow hallway. If you block it completely, no one can pass. If it's wide open, everyone can run through. An approximant is like a hallway that's a bit narrow. People can still walk through easily, but it's not as wide open as a big room. This is why approximants sound smooth and vowel-like.

Semivowels: Vowel-like Sounds

Semivowels are a type of approximant consonant that sound a lot like vowels. If you said them alone, you might think they are vowels. But in many languages, including English, they act as consonants.

The most common semivowels in English are:

• The "y" sound, like in the word "yes".
• The "w" sound, like in the word "wet".

When you say "yes," your tongue moves quickly from a vowel-like position to the next vowel sound. The same happens with "w" in "wet." This quick movement is what makes them consonants, even though they sound like vowels.

Lateral Approximants

In lateral approximants, the air flows out the sides of your tongue. The middle of your tongue touches the roof of your mouth. This blocks the air from going straight out. But the sides of your tongue are lowered, letting the air escape.

The best example of a lateral approximant in English is the "l" sound. Try saying "like." You'll feel the tip of your tongue touch the roof of your mouth. But the air still comes out smoothly from the sides of your tongue.

See also

In Spanish: Consonante aproximante para niños