ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

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That symbol is called a glottal stop. It's a sound that we make when we quickly stop the airflow in our throat. It's kind of like when you say "uh oh" but you stop in the middle of the "uh" sound.

We use it in some languages to change the meaning of words or to make certain sounds. It's like a secret code that only people who speak that language know how to use!