What are "Consonant clusters"?

Consonant clusters refer to combinations of two or more consonants that are pronounced together without an intervening vowel sound. This definition aligns perfectly with the concept of pairs of consonants appearing together. For instance, in the word "street," the initial cluster “str” consists of three consonants that are blended smoothly during pronunciation.

Understanding consonant clusters is essential in phonics and language instruction, as it helps students learn how these groupings can affect spelling and pronunciation. Recognizing these clusters can also aid students in breaking down words into more manageable parts, enhancing their reading and speaking skills.

The other options relate to different aspects of phonetics or syllable structure, such as single consonants, vowel sounds, and vowel pairs, but they do not accurately depict what constitutes a consonant cluster.