Consonants and vowels are distinct categories of sounds in spoken language.
* Consonants are sounds produced by obstructing the airflow in the mouth. Examples include "b", "d", "f", "m", "n", and "p".
* Vowels are sounds produced with an unobstructed airflow, allowing the sound to resonate freely. Examples include "a", "e", "i", "o", and "u".
It's important to understand the difference between these two types of sounds for proper pronunciation and language comprehension.