Stops or plosives are consonant sounds that are formed by completely stopping airflow. Stop sounds can be voiceless, like the sounds /p/, /t/, and /k/, or voiced, like /b/, /d/, and /g/. In phonetics, a plosive consonant is made by blocking a part of the mouth so that no air can pass through.

Why are some sounds called stop?

Oral sounds are either stops or continuants. If the air stream is completely blocked and then released, the sound is a stop. If the air is impeded but still allowed to flow out of the mouth in some way, then the sound is a continuant. Stops or plosives cut off the air completely, at least for a little time.

What are examples of stop sounds?

In the most common type of stop sound, known as a plosive, air in the lungs is briefly blocked from flowing out through the mouth and nose, and pressure builds up behind the blockage. The sounds that are generally associated with the letters p, t, k, b, d, g in English words such pat, kid, bag are examples of plosives.