A consonant is a speech sound that is not a vowel.

It also refers to letters of the alphabet that

represent those sounds: Z, B, T, G, and H are all consonants. Consonants are all the non-vowel
sounds, or their corresponding letters: A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y are not consonants.

No word in English begins with more than three consonants (Roach 2002: 71), thus the maximum
number of segments in the word-initial consonant cluster is three. At the beginning of English words
(syllables), there are 55 two-consonant clusters.

How many consonant sounds do you think there are in English? Of course, most of us know that
there are 20 consonant letters in our alphabet (or 21 if you include 'y'), but here we are talking
about sounds, not letters.

How many consonant sounds do you think there are in English? Of course, most of us know that
there are 20 consonant letters in our alphabet (or 21 if you include 'y'), but here we are talking
about sounds, not letters.

https://www.google.com/search?q=consonant+clusters&oq

by Richard Nordquist

Updated June 28, 2017

In linguistics, a consonant cluster (CC) is a group of two or more consonant sounds that come before
(called an onset), after (called a coda) or between (called medial) vowels. Also known simply as a
cluster, these occur naturally in written and spoken English though sometimes may be altered
phonetically.

This process, called consonant cluster simplification (or reduction) sometimes occurs when one
consonant (or more) in a sequence of adjacent consonants is elided or dropped in everyday
speech, for instance, the phrase "best boy" may be pronounced "bes' boy," and "first time" may be
pronounced "firs' time."

Onset consonant clusters may occur in two or three initial consonants, wherein three are referred to
as CCC while coda consonant clusters can occur in two to four consonant groups.

Learn About Consonant Clusters in English Grammar

COMMON CONSONANT CLUSTERS

The written English language contains up to 46 permissible two-item initial consonant clusters,
ranging from the common "st" to the less common "sq," but only 9 permissible three-item
consonant clusters, as Michael Pearce posits in his book "The Routledge Dictionary of English
Language Studies."

Pearce illustrates the common three-item initial consonant clusters in the following words: "spl/
split, /spr/ sprig, /spj/ spume, /str/ strip, /stj/ stew, /skl/ sclerotic, /skr/ screen, /skw/ squad, /skj/
skua," wherein every word must start with an "s," be followed by a voiceless stop like "p" or "t" and
a liquid or glide like "l" or "w."

In terms of codas, or consonant clusters that end words, they may contain up to four items, though
they are often truncated in connected speech if the consonant cluster is too long, as in the word
"glimpst" being acceptably written as "glimst."

CONSONANT CLUSTER REDUCTION

In spoken English and rhetoric, oftentimes consonant clusters will be truncated naturally to increase
speed or eloquence of speech, oftentimes dropping the same consonant if it occurs at the end of
one word and again at the beginning of the next. This process, called consonant cluster reduction, is
relatively variable but confined my linguistic factors that inhibit the operation of reducing these
words.

As Walt Wolfram describes it in "Dialect in Society," "with respect to the phonological environment
that follows the cluster, the likelihood of reduction is increased when the cluster is followed by a
word beginning with a consonant." What this means for average English users is that cluster
reduction is more common in phrases like "west coast or cold cuts" than in "west end or cold apple."

This technique can also be found in poetry to force similar-sounding words with different consonant
endings to rhyme. Take for example the words test and desk, which don't rhyme in their original
form, but if one uses consonant cluster reduction, the rhyme "Sittin' in my des', takin' my tes'" can
be forced through truncation, as Lisa Green describes in "African American English: A Linguistic
Introduction," this is most common in the poetic raps of African American origins in the United
States

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-consonant-cluster-cc-1689791

Practice Materials for Consonant Clusters

These materials can be used as additional phonetic exercises for practicing typical initial and final
consonant clusters in short frequently used words. Be careful not to insert the neutral sound []
between the consonant sounds of the clusters. Note on transcription symbols: [] as in the word
THIN; [] as in THIS; [sh] as in SHE; [zh] as in MIRAGE; [ch] as in CHEESE; [j] as in JANE; [] as in LONG.

. []
. : [] THIN; []
THIS; [sh] SHE; [zh] MIRAGE; [ch] CHEESE; [j] JANE; [] LONG.

Initial consonant clusters

[pl], [pr], [bl], [br]

plead please pleasant plenty plan plastic platter plaza plot plural plume plug
pluck plum plump plus play place plain plane plague plywood plight plow
plosive;

preach priest pretty prepare prefer print prison press present pregnant practice
practical prank problem product profit proof prove prune prude professor
promote praise pray prayer price pride prime private prize pry proud prowl
prose probe prone program;

bleed bleak blink bliss bless blend black blank blast block blond blue bloom
blur blood blame blaze blind blow bloat;

breed breeze breathe brief bring brick brim bread breast brand bracket bra
broad broth brood broom brook brother brush brain break brace bright brow
brown browser broil broken;

[tr], [dr]
tree treat trim trip trick trend tread track trap travel tram trauma true troop
trust truck trunk tray trace train trail try tribe trout troll;

dream drill drink drip draft drama draw drop droop drew drum drunk drain
drape dry drive drown drone drove;

[kl], [kr], [gl], [gr]

clean clear click cling clever cleft clan class clasp clue clerk club claim clay
climb cloud clown close clone;

cream creed critical crib credit crest crack crash crawl cross crop crew cruise
crude crook crush crust crazy crane cry crime crisis crowd crown crow;

glee glib glimpse glare glad glamor glance glue gloomy glum glide globe global;

green Greek grief grease grip grim grin grab gram grand grasp grew groom
group great grade grave grime grind ground grow grown growth gross;

[fl], [fr]

flee fleece flick flint flip flesh flex flare flap flax floor flock floss flew flu flirt
flame flake fly flight Floyd flow flown;

free freeze freak frequent frisk frigid Fred friend fresh Frank fraction fragment
fragile fraud frog frost fruit frame fragrant phrase freight fry fright frown froze;

[r], [shr]
three thrifty thrill thread threat threshold thrash throng throb through threw
thrush thrust thrice thrive throat throw thrown throne,

shriek shrimp shrink shred shredder shrewd shrug shrine;

[sk], [skr]

ski skin skip skim scare scan scatter scar score scoff school scuba skirt skunk
skull sculpture skate scale sky scout scoundrel scope scold;

scream screen screech scribble scrimp script scrap scratch scramble scrawl screw
scrooge scruple scrutiny scrub scrape scroll;

[sl], [sm], [sn]

sleep sleet sleeve sleazy sling slick slim slip slit slender sledge slam slap slash
slack slang slot slob sloppy sluice slew slur slurp slum slug slave slay sleigh
sly slide slight slime slouch slow slope slogan;

smear Smith smell smash smack smart small smog smock smooth smooch
smother smudge smug smile smoke smolder;

sneeze sneak sneer sniff snip snare snack snap snatch snarl snore snort snorkel
snob snoop snug snake snail snipe sniper snout snow;

[sp], [spl], [spr]

speak speed spin spit spill spirit spend special speck spell spare span spam
spark spa sport spot sponsor spoon spool spook spur sponge Spain space spy
spice spike spine spite spout spouse spoil spoke spoken;
spleen split splint splinter splendid splendor splash splotch splurge splay splice;

spree spring sprint sprinkle spread sprang sprawl spruce sprung spray sprain
sprite sprout;

[st], [str]

steal steam steel steep steer stick still stiff step stencil sterile stare stair stand
stamp stab statue staff star stark start store stork storm stop stock story
stew stool stoop student stir sterling stern study stuff stub stubborn stun stunt
stumble stay stake state stain style sty stout stone stove stow;

street stream streak strict string strip stress stretch strength strand strangle strap
stratosphere straw strong struck structure struggle strange strain straight stray
strike stripe strive stride stroke stroll;

[sw], [tw], [dw], [kw], [skw], [gw]

sweet sweep swim swift switch swing swindle Swiss swivel swell swept sweat
swear swore sworn swarm swan swallow swamp swab swap swung sway swine
swollen;

tweed twin twist twig twelve twenty twang twice twilight twine;

dwarf dwell dwindle Dwayne Dwight;

queen queer quick quit question quest quarrel quart quarter quite quiet quote
quotation;

squeeze squeak squeal squid square squad squander squash squat squirrel squirt;
Gwen Gwendolen Guatemala.

Final consonant clusters

[ft], [kt]

drift gift lift sift left draft shaft loft soft;

act fact tact elect affect depict deduct;

[lt], [ld]

belt dealt felt melt built guilt kilt tilt halt malt fault default vault bolt colt
jolt;

old bold cold fold gold hold mold scold sold told child mild wild field build
held bald world;

[lk], [lp], [lb]

milk silk elk bulk hulk sulk;

help yelp palp pulp bulb;

[lf], [lv]

self elf shelf golf gulf wolf Ralph Rolph Rudolph;

solve involve valve delve;

[lch], [lj], [lm], [ls]

belch bilge bulge divulge;

film helm realm else pulse;

[mp], [mf]

limp temp camp lamp ramp stamp stomp bump dump jump plump rump
stump;

lymph nymph triumph;

[nt], [nd]

mint lint sent spent bent tent vent moment agreement statement pant can't
haunt want hunt paint saint pint point joint;

wind send spend lend friend attend band land hand sand bond fond pond
fund find kind bind mind behind rind wind found round sound pound;

[nch], [nj]

finch pinch bench French branch ranch launch crunch hunch lunch;

change range strange binge cringe fringe tinge sponge lunge lounge;
[ns], [nz]

rinse since mince wince dense fence sense absence license science chance dance
fragrance ounce;

cleanse [klenz] lens [lenz];

[k]

pink [pik] ink drink think link mink sink shrink wink bank banker sank rank
frank spank tank honk monk monkey drunk junk punk skunk distinct jinx
wrinkle uncle ankle anchor anxious banquet ['bkwit];

[g]

finger ['figr] linger hunger hungry anger angry longer longest stronger strongest
younger youngest congress (n.) mongrel single angle strangle tangle language lingo
linguist distinguish;

Note: The sound combination [g] does not occur at the end of English words. It is given here for
comparison with [k], which can be at the end and in the middle of words. (
[g] . [k],
.)

[ps], [pt]

perhaps lapse collapse ellipse glimpse oops;

apt rapt crept kept accept crypt script adopt erupt attempt tempt;

[sk], [sp], [st]

risk flask mask task desk mosque dusk husk;

lisp crisp wisp clasp grasp wasp;

least feast beast mist wrist best chest test fast last past cost lost first thirst
burst dust must rust paste taste waste boast coast roast most post;

Clusters with final []

month health wealth stealth filth warmth strength length width breadth depth;

seventh ninth tenth fifteenth sixteenth thirteenth sixth fifth twelfth eighth [eit]
hundredth thousandth.

Note: length [le] or [lek]; strength [stre] or [strek].

Final consonant clusters with the ending S/ES

[ps], [ts], [ks]

stops lamps helps writes tests texts links thanks sharks;

[bz], [dz], [gz]

rubs bulbs needs holds worlds thousands pigs legs;

[fs], [s]
beliefs laughs gulfs cliffs deaths myths births;

[vz], [z]

leaves knives wolves valves saves clothes breathes bathes;

Note: cloths [kloz] or [klos]; clothes [klouz] or [klouz]; oaths [ouz]; BrE: baths [ba:z] or [ba:s];
AmE: baths [bz] or [bs];

[mz], [nz], [z], [lz]

homes storms cleans fans lungs rings girls thrills.

Final consonant clusters with the ending ED

[pt], [kt], [ft]

hoped stopped tipped linked locked marked sniffed laughed coughed;

[st], [sht], [cht]

missed danced mixed washed rushed fished watched reached searched;

[bd], [gd]

robbed stabbed tubed begged lagged logged hugged;

[vd], [d], [zd]

lived received saved bathed breathed clothed seized raised closed;

[zhd], [jd]

rouged charged managed paged;

[md], [nd], [d], [ld]

filmed armed planned rained hanged banged called hurled sealed.

Note: See pronunciation charts for the endings S/ES and ED in English Consonant Sounds in the
section Phonetics. Rules for adding S/ES and ED are described in Adding the Ending s/es to Nouns
and Verbs and Adding the Endings ed, ing to Verbs in the section Writing.

: S/ES ED English
Consonant Sounds Phonetics. S/ES ED
Adding the Ending s/es to Nouns and Verbs Adding the Endings ed, ing to Verbs Writing.

Other final consonant combinations

Some final consonant combinations which do not have a vowel between the consonants in spelling
can be pronounced with or without the neutral sound [] between the consonants: pl, bl, tl, dl, cl, gl,
fl, thm, sm. Also, the neutral sound may or may not be pronounced in final unstressed suffixes which
have a vowel or vowels between such consonants in spelling. Such consonant combinations may or
may not be consonant clusters depending on whether the neutral sound is absent or present.
Compare these examples:

,
, [] : pl,
bl, tl, dl, cl, gl, fl, thm, sm. ,
 ,
.
. :

apple ['pl] ['pl], table ['teibl] ['teibl];

little ['litl] ['litl], riddle ['ridl] ['ridl];

miracle ['mirkl] ['mirkl], eagle ['i:gl] ['i:gl];

rifle ['raifl] ['raifl], waffle ['wofl] ['wofl];

rhythm ['rim] ['rim], prism ['prizm] ['prizm];

kitten ['kitn] ['kitn], hidden ['hidn] ['hidn];

lesson ['lesn] ['lesn], mention ['menshn] ['menshn].

USEFUL ENGLISH

http://usefulenglish.ru/phonetics/practice-consonant-clusters