Nasal sounds are speech sounds produced when air flows through the nasal cavity during articulation. They occur when the velum, a part of the soft palate, lowers, allowing air to escape through the nose. Common nasal sounds in English include the consonants m, n, and ŋ (as in "sing"). These sounds are important in many languages and contribute to the distinctiveness of words. Nasalization can also affect vowels, making them sound different when produced with nasal airflow. Understanding nasal sounds is essential for linguistics, speech therapy, and language learning.