Velar consonants are speech sounds produced by obstructing airflow at the back of the mouth, specifically at the soft part of the roof, known as the velum. Common examples of velar consonants include the sounds represented by the letters k, g, and ŋ (as in "sing"). These sounds are important in many languages and contribute to the distinctiveness of words. In phonetics, velar consonants can be classified as either voiced or voiceless. The voiceless velar consonant is k, while the voiced counterpart is g. The sound ŋ is a nasal velar consonant, which means air flows through the nose during its production. Understanding velar consonants helps in the study of language and speech patterns.