Consonants and vowels are two fundamental categories of sounds in language. Here are the key differences between them: Articulation: Consonants are produced with some degree of constriction or obstruction of airflow in the vocal tract, involving the interaction of various articulatory organs (such as lips, tongue, teeth, and vocal cords). In contrast, vowels are produced with a relatively open vocal tract, allowing unimpeded airflow. Sonority: Consonants are generally less sonorous than vowels. Sonority refers to the acoustic quality of a sound and is associated with loudness and resonance. Vowels tend to be more sonorous, while consonants exhibit varying degrees of constriction and reduced sonority. Role in Syllables: Vowels typically form the nucleus or core of syllables, providing the audible peak and carrying the primary stress. Conversely, consonants often function as the syllable's onset (the initial sound) or coda (the final sound). Consonants help shape the syllabic structure and contribute to the rhythm and flow of speech. Audibility: Vowels are generally more audible and prominent in speech due to their resonant nature. Consonants, being less sonorous, may require closer attention to hear and distinguish accurately. However, consonants are crucial in determining words and conveying specific phonetic details. Phonemic Status: In many languages, including English, both consonants and vowels function as phonemes, which are the minor meaningful units of sound. Consonants and vowels combine to create the distinctive sounds of words and contribute to their lexical and grammatical meaning.