What are consonants?

Consonants are defined as all the letters of the alphabet that are not classified as vowels. In English, the vowels are A, E, I, O, and U, and every other letter in the alphabet is considered a consonant. This distinction is fundamental in understanding phonetics, language structure, and spelling, as consonants typically represent sounds that are produced with a partial or complete blockage of airflow, in contrast to the open vocal tract used for vowel sounds.

The other definitions provided do not accurately depict consonants. For instance, vowels specifically represent vowel sounds, while consonants do not fall into this category at all. Words that share similar meanings relate to synonyms but have no connection to the classification of letters. Lastly, letters denoting emotions is not an established concept within linguistics or phonics and does not pertain to the definition of consonants. By recognizing that consonants encompass all other letters of the alphabet except the vowels, one can better understand their role in language formation.