The term "alveolars" refers to speech sounds that are made by placing the tongue against the ridge behind the front teeth. They include sounds such as /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, and /l/. Synonyms for the word "alveolars" include "dental consonants," "interdental consonants," and "interdental fricatives." Dental consonants are those sounds made with the tongue touching or near the teeth, while interdental consonants are those made by placing the tongue between the teeth or just behind them. Interdental fricatives specifically refer to the sounds /θ/ and /ð/, which are made by forcing air through the gap between the teeth.