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Labiovelar ConsonantA labiovelar consonant is a consonant made with two blockages, one at the lips (labial) and the other at the soft palate (velar). The only common labiovelar consonant worldwide is w, pronounced as in English. When the consonant is a plosive, the effect is of a simultaneous articulation of a labial consonant such as p or b, and a velar consonant such as k or g. Written therefore as kp (voiceless) or gb (voiced) they are common in West African languages, but uncommon elsewhere in the world. The term 'labiovelar' may also be used in a somewhat looser way to refer to labialized velar consonants, that is ones that are primarily a velar such as k or g but have a secondary rounding of the lips. These sounds, denoted kw and gw, are more common across the world's languages.
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