Consonants are speech sounds that are produced when airflow is blocked or restricted in some way. They are different from vowels, which are made with an open vocal tract. In the English language, consonants include letters like B, C, D, and S. Each consonant has its own unique sound, and they can be combined with vowels to form words. In writing, consonants are essential for creating the structure of words. For example, in the word cat, the consonants C and T work with the vowel A to create a complete sound. Understanding consonants helps us read and pronounce words correctly, making them a fundamental part of language.