Voiced labial–alveolar plosive

The voiced labial–alveolar plosive is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. It is a [d] and [b] pronounced simultaneously. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ⟨d͡b⟩.

Voiced labial–alveolar plosive
d͡b
d̪͡b

Features

Features of the voiced labial–alveolar plosive are:

• Its manner of articulation is occlusive, which means it is produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract. Since the consonant is also oral, with no nasal outlet, the airflow is blocked entirely, and the consonant is a plosive.
• Its place of articulation is labial–alveolar, which means that it is simultaneously articulated with the front part of the tongue against the alveolar ridge and the lips.
• Its phonation is voiced, which means the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
• It is an oral consonant, which means that air is exclusively allowed to escape through the mouth.

• It is a central consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream along the center of the tongue, rather than to the sides.
• Its airstream mechanism is pulmonic, which means it is articulated by pushing air solely with the intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles, as in most sounds.

Occurrence

Language	Dialect	Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
Abkhaz[1][2]		[example needed]			In free variation with [dʷ]; contrasts /t͡pʰ, d͡b, t͡pʼ/. See Abkhaz phonology.
Lak[2]	Some dialects	[example needed]			Contrasts /t͡p, d͡b, t͡pʼ/.
Nzema[3]		[example needed]			Contrasts /t͡p, d͡b/.
Yele[4]		Mb꞉eetpuwo	[mbɛ̃ːd̪͡buw̪ɔ]	(place name)	Voiced between vowels. Contrasts voiced labial–retroflex plosive.
		Kmatpi	[k͡pŋ͡mæd̪͡bi]	(a male name)