- Definition
A consonant is a sound you make when you block air with your tongue, teeth, or lips, like the "b" in "ball" or the "t" in "cat.
The sound /t/ in 'top' is a consonant because your tongue taps the roof of your mouth to block the air.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A consonant is a sound where your lips, teeth, or tongue get in the way of your breath, like a little tap or a puff of air.
Ask your child: What do your lips do when you say the sound 'buh'?
Common mix-up: Kids often think of consonants as just a list of letters to memorize. The key idea is that a consonant is a specific sound you make by blocking air with your mouth.
Examples
- The /b/ sound in 'ball' is a consonant made by putting your lips together.
- The /g/ sound in 'go' is a consonant made by the back of your tongue.
consonant is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
