What is the term for the quick puff of air produced during pronunciation?

The term for the quick puff of air produced during pronunciation is aspiration. Aspiration occurs in certain consonant sounds, particularly voiceless stops like /p/, /t/, and /k/. When these sounds are released, they may come with a burst of air that is perceived audibly, distinguishing them from their unaspirated counterparts.

For example, in English, the initial sound of "pat" has a noticeable aspiration, while the initial sound of "spat" does not show the same burst of air due to the following consonant. Aspiration is an important feature in phonetics, as it can affect the meaning of words in some languages, making it crucial for accurate pronunciation and comprehension.