Over two‐thirds of the fricatives in a sample of 225 languages (Stanford Phonology Archive) occur at places of articulation at or anterior to the palatal region. An even higher preponderance of front fricatives can be seen if /h/, which often functions like a voiceless vowel, is excluded. A partial explanation for the preponderance of front fricatives is the finding of K. Stevens [J. Acoust. Soc. Am.50, 1180–92 (1971)] that there is a generally higher level of energy produced as the place of articulation moves forward in the vocal tract. The synthesis of a number of fricatives using a program that traces the volume velocity wave in the vocal tract and the application of equal loudness contours [based on S. Stevens, J. Acoust. Soc. Am.51, 575–601 (1972)] suggests that net perceived loudness (the spectrum of fricative noised produced with the effect of that spectrum on the auditory system) strongly favors fricatives produced toward the front of the mouth. [Work supported by NIH.]