In phonetics, a velar consonant is a [[consonant sound]] produced by raising the back of the tongue to contact the velum (soft palate) while airflow is obstructed in the oral cavity. Velar consonants are characterized by the point of articulation being at or near the velum, and include sounds such as /k/, /g/, and /ŋ/. They are commonly found in many languages, including English, where they play an important role in distinguishing between different words and sounds.