Formant

A formant is a prominent frequency peak in the spectrum of a sound, particularly in speech. When we speak, our vocal tract shapes the sound waves produced by our vocal cords, creating these peaks at specific frequencies. Each vowel sound has its own unique pattern of formants, which helps us distinguish between them. Essentially, formants act like the "signature" of vowel sounds, allowing us to recognize and differentiate speech. They play a crucial role in how we perceive and understand spoken language.