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Linguistic Typology Geography Linguistics Phonetics

The Pressure-Cooker Consonants: An Introduction to Ejectives

Estimated read time 6 min read

Ejectives are a fascinating category of consonants found in languages from the Caucasus to the Americas. Made by building up air pressure in the mouth before releasing it in a sharp burst, these sounds give languages like Georgian and Quechua a distinct, percussive quality. This article explores the phonetic mechanics behind these “pressure-cooker” sounds and where you can hear them around the world.