Sounds · The T
T stops, with no air
Your tongue goes up for the T and stays: no air comes out. Before an N, a T or D stops too: button, didn’t.
T + pause · consonant → stops
that
Hear it in words
How each word is written, and how Americans say it.
- whatwhat
- nightnight
- footballfootball
- outsideoutside
- departmentdepartment
- buttonbutn
- writtenwritn
- certaincertn
- importantimportnt
- websitewebsite
- airportairport
- partnerpartner
In a sentence
- I'm not certain about that. I'm not certn about that.
- I'll get right back to you. I'll get right back to you.
- I'll have that one, please. I'll have that one, please.
Careful with these
- Before a vowel, the T becomes a quick D: get it, a lot of, what about
- Before an -s ending, the T is said: cats, it's, let's
- When -tain is strong, the T has air: contain, maintain
How to say it
- Don’t add a little “uh” after it: “that one”, not “that-uh one”.
- The T is still there in your mouth: get ready for it, then hold it.
- In button, stop the air in your throat, as in “uh-oh”, then say the N.
Listen for: A tiny silence where the T is, with no air after it.
Where to look for it
A T before a pause or a consonant: that, football, right now, not bad. Also before an N at the end: button, certain. Not before an -s ending: in cats, it’s and let’s, the T is said.
More about it
Before an N, some Americans hold the tongue up instead; both are American. At the end of a sentence, you may hear a little air: “I like that.” A full T is always understood; it only sounds careful. A T left out completely is noticed, and so is an “uh” after it.
Teachers call this: The held or unreleased T; before N, the glottal stop.
Listen for it today. Listen for “right now” and “not bad”: the T stops, with no air.