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Labiovelar consonant
A labiovelar consonant is a consonant made with two blockages, one at the lips (labial) and the other at the soft palate (velar). The only common labiovelar consonant worldwide is [w], pronounced as in English.
When the consonant is a plosive[?], the effect is of a simultaneous articulation of a labial consonant such as [p] or [b], and a velar consonant such as [k] or [g]. Written therefore as [kp] (voiceless) or [gb] (voiced) they are common in West African languages, but uncommon elsewhere in the world.
The term 'labiovelar' may also be used in a somewhat looser way to refer to labialized velar consonants, that is ones that are primarily a velar such as [k] or [g] but have a secondary rounding of the lips. These sounds, denoted [kw] and [gw], are more common across the world's languages.
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