In phonetics, a lateral consonant or liquid is a consonant sound in which air flows along the sides of the tongue, but not down the middle. The two main types of lateral consonants are lateral approximants (also known as lateral semivowels) and lateral fricatives. Lateral approximants, such as /l/ in English, involve a partial closure of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, allowing air to flow out laterally on one or both sides. Lateral fricatives, such as /ɬ/ in Welsh, involve a more narrow constriction that creates friction as air passes through. Lateral consonants are found in many languages around the world and can have various phonetic properties depending on their place and manner of articulation.