Labial consonant (original) (raw)

Labials are consonants articulated with both lips (bilabial articulation) or with the lower lip and the upper teeth (labiodental articulation). English [m] is a bilabial nasal; [p] and [b] are bilabial stops; [f] and [v] are labiodental fricatives. Bilabial fricatives are less common but do occur in many languages; for example, the Spanish consonant spelt b or v is pronounced as a voiced bilabial fricative [B] between vowels.

Lip rounding, or labialisation can also accompany other articulations, see labiovelars.