Fricative
[FRIK-ə-tiv]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, 19th century
1.
Denoting a type of consonant made by the friction of breath in a narrow opening, producing a turbulent air flow.
Examples of Fricative in a sentence
"I had difficulty with fricative sounds, so I saw a speech therapist when I was a child."
"My husband snores, but he only makes gentle fricative noises I can sleep through easily."
About Fricative
“Fricative” is based on the Latin “fricativus,” itself based on the Latin “fricāre,” meaning “to rub.”
Did you Know?
“Fricative” is a phonetics term that describes specific sounds made by the mouth in spoken language. In particular, it deals with breathy sounds that sound like friction — such as those produced by the consonants “f” and “v.” Unlike “d” and “t” sounds, which involve briefly stopping the breath by blocking the tongue against the teeth, fricative sounds (including “s,” “z,” and “th”) are created by forcing air through a small passage between the teeth and either the tongue or the bottom lip.
