Glottal stops what are they and what languages use them

[MelaninWarlord]

A glottal stop is a speech sound produced by momentarily blocking the airflow in your throat. Specifically, you close your glottis (the space between your vocal folds) and then release it, creating a sharp "catch" or a brief moment of silence.

In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it is represented by the symbol [ʔ], which looks like a question mark without the dot.

How to recognize it
The easiest way to identify a glottal stop is by saying the phrase "Uh-oh!" out loud. That tiny break in the middle where your throat "closes" to separate the two sounds is a glottal stop.

In English:
British English (Cockney/Estuary): Famous for replacing the "t" in words like bottle (bo'le) or butter (bu'er).

American English: Most Americans use it in the word "button" or "mountain". You don't usually say a crisp "T" in the middle; instead, you "stop" the air in your throat right before the "N."

Which languages use them most?
While English uses glottal stops as a "shorthand" for other sounds (called an allophone), many other languages treat them as a full consonant that can change the meaning of a word.

1. Polynesian Languages (e.g., Hawaiian)
Hawaiian is famous for its high frequency of glottal stops, known as the ‘okina. It is a full-fledged letter in their alphabet.
Example: Ali‘i (chief). Without the glottal stop, the word would sound completely different or lose its meaning.

2. Semitic Languages (e.g., Arabic, Hebrew)
In Arabic, the glottal stop is called the Hamza (ء). It is a distinct consonant that appears at the beginning, middle, or end of words.

Example: The word Qur’an has a glottal stop in the middle.
3. German
German uses glottal stops very frequently, though they aren't written down. German speakers typically insert a glottal stop before any word or syllable that starts with a stressed vowel.

Example: In the word Spiegelei (fried egg), a German speaker puts a sharp stop between Spiegel and ei.

4. Danish
Danish uses a unique version of the glottal stop called stød. It’s more of a "creaky" closure in the throat that distinguishes words that would otherwise sound identical.

5. Indigenous North American Languages
Many languages like Nahuatl, Eyak, and Navajo use glottal stops as essential consonants to build their vocabulary and grammar.
Summary Comparison

 

[MelaninWarlord]

Yes, Teochew and Hokkien (both part of the Southern Min language family) use glottal stops extensively. In fact, the glottal stop is one of the most defining sounds of these languages.

In these languages, the glottal stop primarily appears as a final consonant (at the end of a syllable).

1. The "Entering Tone" (Ru Sheng)
In Teochew and Hokkien, many words belong to what is called the Entering Tone. These are syllables that sound "clipped" or "short."

This shortness is caused by the syllable ending in a stop consonant—either -p, -t, -k, or a glottal stop (-h or -ʔ).
Weakening of Stops: Historically, many words that ended in -k in ancient Chinese have "softened" into a glottal stop in Southern Min dialects.

Teochew vs. Hokkien: Teochew has largely lost the final -t and -n sounds found in Hokkien, often replacing them with glottal stops or nasalized vowels.

2. Examples in Writing and Speech
Depending on the romanization system used (like Peng'im for Teochew or Pe̍h-ōe-jī for Hokkien), the glottal stop is usually written with the letter -h at the end of a word.

 

[MelaninWarlord]

In Teochew and Hokkien, "Beh nang" is a perfect example of how the glottal stop works in real-time conversation.

Depending on the specific dialect (Teochew or Hokkien) and the context, this phrase usually refers to "White people" (Westerners) or "Who?"

1. "White People" (白人)
Characters: 白人
Teochew/Hokkien: Pe̍h-nâng or Be̍h-nâng
The Glottal Stop: The first word, Beh (白 - white), ends in a sharp glottal stop. Without that stop, it wouldn't sound like "white"; it would sound like a long, drawn-out vowel.

The Sound: It sounds like "Beh" but you "choke" the sound off instantly.
2. "Who?" (什么人 / 谁)
Characters: 乜人 (specifically in Teochew)
Teochew: Mi̍h-nâng (often sounds like beh-nâng in certain local accents)

The Glottal Stop: The word Mi̍h or Beh (meaning "what") has that same abrupt "catch" in the throat.

Why the Glottal Stop matters here: Tone Sandhi
Teochew and Hokkien are famous for Tone Sandhi, which means the "glottal stop" actually changes behavior depending on where it sits in a sentence.

If you say "Beh" alone: You make a very sharp, strong glottal stop at the end. It feels like a "hiccup" at the end of the word.

When you say "Beh-nang" together: Because "Beh" is followed by another word ("nang"), the glottal stop often softens or the pitch changes.
In Hokkien, the glottal stop usually stays but the pitch of the vowel shifts.

In Teochew, the glottal stop is often "lost" or becomes very faint, and the word for "white" (Beh) becomes a long, low-dropping tone to make room for the word "nang."

Comparison:
Phrase Meaning Role of the Stop
Beh White Strong, abrupt closure of the throat.
Beh-nang White person The stop helps transition the "Beh" into "Nang" quickly.

Fun Fact: If you are a Teochew speaker, you probably use more glottal stops than a Hokkien speaker. Teochew is known for having many more "clipped" sounds where the throat closes rapidly compared to the slightly "rounder" sounds of Hokkien.
Are you learning Teochew or Hokkien, or do you hear these phrases used at home?