The lowercase letter "b" is the second letter of the English alphabet. It is a consonant and is typically pronounced as /b/. In writing, "b" is formed with a straight vertical line on the left and a rounded shape on the right, resembling a small circle. In various languages, the letter "b" can represent different sounds, but it generally maintains a similar pronunciation. In the context of phonetics, "b" is classified as a voiced bilabial plosive, meaning it is produced by bringing both lips together and then releasing them while using vocal cords.