This is probably one of the simplest, yet interesting, sounds in language.
In phonetics, a glottal stop is a quick closure in the throat that momentarily stops the airflow before allowing it to come out again. It plays a significant role in a variety of languages and accents, and it can influence grammar and meaning. Let's have a look at it in more detail!
How is this sound made?
The space between your vocal cords is called the glottis, and here is where the glottal stop is produced.
This is what physically happens:
- The vocal cords are pressed together so that the airflow from the lungs can't come out (a glottal closure).
- Even though the air has nowhere to go, the lungs are still sending air upwards, creating a build-up of pressure.
- The pressure is released in an instant and the air escapes in a short burst.
- The release is sharp and quiet. What we perceive as the "sound" of a glottal stop is the silence from the closure followed by the quick burst.
Because the sound happens entirely in the larynx, the glottal stop does not require the tongue, lips, or teeth. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it is written as ʔ. Think of the expression "uh-oh!": the "uh" flows freely, then the vocal folds close, and then they reopen right as you begin "oh," causing the sharp break in the middle.
The linguistic functions of a glottal stop
Glottal stops do more than interrupt airflow. They can create differences in meaning, change rhythm, and even make everyday speech easier. Here are the most common functions.
It creates meaning differences
In languages where the glottal stop is phonemic, changing its presence or position can create an entirely different word. It functions just like any other consonant (such as /p/ or /t/), so swapping it changes meaning. For instance, in Hawaiian, mai is a directional marker, while maʻi means "sick" or "unwell." More on the Hawaiian ʻokina (their glottal stop) here.
It separates sounds
Some dialects insert a glottal stop between vowels so that they do not run together. A few everyday spellings that often include this separation are:
- re-enter → [riˈʔentə]
- cooperate → [koʊˈʔɒpəreɪt] / [koʊˈʔɑːpəreɪt]
- pre-existing → [priːʔɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ]
It helps with emphasis
Because the glottal stop interrupts airflow, it also changes rhythm. Speakers can leverage it to highlight syllables or words:
- 'No, I said [ʔ]orange, not apple.'
- 'It was [ʔ]awful.'
- 'I want [ʔ]all of it!'
It can ease articulation
Some British accents substitute /t/ with a glottal stop in everyday speech—the classic "bo[ʔ]le of wa[ʔ]er" example. This swap requires less tongue movement and lets people speak more quickly and smoothly.
Examples of glottal stops in English
Here are some familiar examples of glottal stops showing up in English. In each case, the stop replaces or follows a /t/ sound.
- cat → [kæʔ]
- what? → [wɒʔ]
- that → [ðæʔ]
- football → [ˈfʊʔbɔːl]
- bottle → [ˈbɒʔl̩]
- little → [ˈlɪʔl̩]
- button → [ˈbʌʔn̩]
- get back → [ɡɛʔ bæk]
- hot day → [hɒʔ deɪ]
- white paper → [waɪʔ peɪpə]
- that man → [ðæʔ mæn]
- sit down → [sɪʔ daʊn]
See it in practice
Because of its quiet nature, the glottal stop tends to go unnoticed, but as you have seen it plays an important role in language. To sharpen your ear, try this exercise: play a video of someone speaking with a British accent—bonus points for a classic Cockney speaker. Listen for all of the glottal stops sneaking into words. They seem to appear out of nowhere, and you will suddenly notice how many there are.
I hope you have as much fun as I do putting linguistics into practice like this.
