Yes, sound waves are compressional waves, also known as longitudinal waves. In a compressional wave, the particles of the medium (such as air, water, or solids) through which the sound is traveling oscillate back and forth in the direction of the wave propagation. This oscillation creates regions of compression and rarefaction, which propagate through the medium as the sound wave.
When a sound wave is produced, it causes a disturbance in the particles of the medium. The particles in the region of compression are pushed close together, resulting in an increase in pressure, while the particles in the region of rarefaction are spread farther apart, leading to a decrease in pressure. These alternating compressions and rarefactions travel through the medium as the sound wave propagates from its source to the listener's ear.
This compressional motion is what enables sound to travel through air or other materials. When you speak, for example, your vocal cords create pressure variations in the air, which form sound waves that propagate through the surrounding medium until they reach someone's ear, allowing them to hear the sound you produced. The ability of sound waves to travel through various materials makes them an important means of communication and information transmission in the natural world.