Definition : Fricative consonants are formed when the two articulators move close together leaving only a small passage through which the airflow is forced, causing the air molecules to "bump together", thus creating audible friction.
Examples from English:
- /f/ as in feet /fi:t/ : unvoiced labiodental fricative
- /v/ and in very /veri:/ : voiced labiodental fricative
- /θ/as in think /θɪŋk/: unvoiced dental fricative
- /ð/ as in that /ðæt/: voiced dental fricative
- /s/ as in sew /səʊ/: unvoiced alveolar fricative
- /z/ as in was /wɒz/: voiced alveolar fricative
- /ʃ/ as in wash /wɒʃ/: unvoiced palato-alveolar fricative
- /ʒ/ as in treasure /treʒə/: voiced palato-alveolar fricative
- /h/ as in he /hi:/ unvoicd glottal fricative
Fricatives are continuant sounds, ie sounds which can be made without stopping (until your lung air runs out).
More reading, with and explanation of the technical terms used above, can be found in An ELT Notebook : English Consonant Sounds
