Spirant (Adjective)
Meaning
Of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then').
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The sound of 'th' in 'thin' is an example of a voiceless spirant sound in the English language.
- The letters 's' and 'z' represent spirant sounds when used in words such as 'snake' and 'buzz'.
- The distinct sound of the Spanish 'z' or 'c' is an example of a spirant produced by the tongue positioned behind the upper teeth.
- Spirant sounds, like the ones in 'father' and 'this', play an essential role in phonetics.
- The letters 'v' and 'th' are also considered spirants due to the friction caused when air passes through the constricted vocal tract.