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What is a consonant in English?

A consonant in English is a sound that is produced by obstructing the flow of air in the mouth. This obstruction can be made by:

* The lips: like in "p" or "b"

* The tongue against the teeth: like in "t" or "d"

* The tongue against the roof of the mouth: like in "k" or "g"

* The tongue against the back of the mouth: like in "ng" as in "sing"

* A combination of these: like in "ch" or "sh"

Here's what makes consonants different from vowels:

* Vowels: are sounds made with an open airflow and are produced with the tongue in a more neutral position.

* Consonants: are sounds made with a restricted airflow and are produced with the tongue in a specific position, creating a barrier or partial barrier.

In English, there are 24 consonants, which are represented by the following letters:

* b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z, ch, sh, th

Some letters can represent different consonants depending on their position in a word or the sound they create. For example, "c" can be a "k" sound ("cat") or an "s" sound ("cent").

It's important to note that in English, there are many consonant digraphs, which are two letters that represent a single consonant sound, such as "ch" or "sh".

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