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T phoneme /t/

From Teflpedia

/t/ is a consonant phoneme that occurs in English as one of the standard English phonemes.[1]

Naming[edit | edit source]

Naming this phoneme, like other consonant phonemes, is somewhat difficult. It could be called the T phoneme after the letter T, or tuh after its sound when initial. It occurs twice in several words such as tat, tart, tit, tot, tort, tut, etc.

Classification[edit | edit source]

This can be classified as Consonant phoneme > Plosive phoneme > Alveolar plosive phoneme.

Phonotactics[edit | edit source]

/t/ forms part of consonant clusters. Initial consonant clusters include:

Final consonant clusters include:

Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Standard pronunciation of this is as an aspirated voiceless alveolar plosive [tʰ]. After /s/ it assimilates due to assimilation by /s/ to become a voiceless alveolar plosive [sd].

In many accents, /t/ in medial position is pronounced as alveolar flap [ɾ].

Elision of /t/ is also very common. It may be replaced by a glottal stop [ʔ], or just dropped completely.

Spelling[edit | edit source]

Spelling is consistently ⟨t⟩, ⟨tt⟩, ⟨tte⟩; or sometimes ⟨th⟩.


Phonogram Words Notes
⟨t⟩
⟨tt⟩
⟨tte⟩
⟨th⟩ Anthony (BrE), Esther, Neanderthal, Thailand, Thames, Theresa, Thomas, Thompson, Thomson, thyme.
⟨tw⟩ two Sightword.
⟨pt⟩ pterodactyl, pterosaur, ptarmigan
⟨bt⟩ debt, doubt, subtle
⟨ct⟩ Connecticut, indict, victual

References[edit | edit source]