In phonetics, a voiced consonant is a consonant which is pronounced with the vibration of the vocal cords. For example, the sound [z] is a voiced consonant, while [s] is not, and its called a voiceless consonant. You can feel when your vocal cords are vibrating by putting your finger at your larynx, or the Adam's Apple. There are many more pairs of voiced/voiceless consonants, such as in English: