Which term describes a bilabial plosive?

• A. A bilabial plosive
• B. A bilabial nasal
• C. A palatal fricative
• D. A velar approximant

Answer: (A)

Placing and shaping the airflow describes how sounds are categorized. A bilabial plosive is made by bringing both lips together (bilabial) and then releasing the closure to create a short burst of air (plosive). The term that names this exact combination is the same phrase: bilabial plosive. In English, this corresponds to sounds like p and b, produced with the lips and a sudden release.

The other options describe different articulations: a bilabial nasal closes the lips but lets air escape through the nose, not as an oral burst; a palatal fricative involves a constriction near the palate that creates continuous noise rather than a burst; a velar approximant keeps a relatively open passage near the velum and does not produce a sharp release like a plosive.