labialvelars

Labialvelars are a class of sounds in phonetics that are produced with a simultaneous constriction at two places of articulation: the lips (labial) and the soft palate or velum (velar). This means the sound is made by bringing the lips together, as if for a 'p' or 'm', while at the same time raising the back of the tongue to touch or approach the velum, as if for a 'k' or 'g'.

These sounds are relatively uncommon in the world's languages but do occur. The most well-known examples are the voiceless labialvelar stop /k͡p/ and the voiced labialvelar stop /g͡b/. These sounds are often described as being like a 'kp' or 'gb' spoken at the same time. For example, the Ewe language, spoken in Ghana and Togo, features both /k͡p/ and /g͡b/. Another example is found in some Oceanic languages like the Kairiru language of Papua New Guinea.

Phonetically, labialvelars are classified as doubly articulated consonants. The production requires precise coordination between the articulatory organs. The labial component involves closing or rounding the lips, while the velar component involves raising the tongue dorsum towards the velum. The airflow is then released from both constrictions. The phonetic symbol for a labialvelar stop typically combines the symbols for the two individual stops, for example, [k͡p] for the voiceless labialvelar stop.