This document discusses the different allophones of the /t/ sound in American English. It notes that the /t/ has four common allophones - a regular aspirated /t/, an alveolar tap like a quick /d/ sound, a glottal stop, and being silent. It provides examples of words that demonstrate each allophone and the phonetic rules for when each allophone is used based on adjacent sounds and placement in a word. Short tongue twisters are also included to illustrate the different /t/ allophones.

1. When /t/ Doesn’t
Sound Like a /t/

2. Introduction
Most sounds of English do not have one exact method of
production; small variations of sound (called allophones) are
often so minimal that native speakers of a language often barely
notice their existence. Which allophone is used depends on
adjacent sounds, placement within a word, and if the sound is
within a stressed syllable. While native speakers use
allophones intuitively, non-native speakers benefit greatly from
explicit instruction on the subject by increasing their listening
comprehension as well as being perceived as more fluent
speakers.
2

3. The American English /t/ includes
the following four common
allophones:
1. Remain a regularly aspirated 't
sound' /t/
2. Be pronounced like a
quick /d/ (also called
an alveolar tap) represented
as /t̬/
3. Become a glottal stop /ʔ/
4. Be silent (omitted) /t/ 3

4. Four Common Allophones
of the /t/
How the consonant /t/ is pronounced

5. 1. The true /t/
The /t/ is a regular, aspirated /t/ when it is the first
sound of a word or a stressed syllable This rule
overrides all other /t/ allophone patterns.
5

6. 1. Attach
2. Pretend
3. Italic
4. Table
5. Teacher
6. Trouble
6

7. 2. Quick ‘d sound’ /t/
The alveolar stop /t̬/ sounds like a quick /d/. It occurs
when a /t/ is between a vowel sound or /r/ (including
all r-controlled vowels) and either another vowel
sound, /r/ (including all r-controlled vowels), or a
syllabic /l/.
7

8. 1. Daughter
2. Computer
3. Settle
4. Butter
5. better
8

9. 3. /t/ is a Glottal stop /?/
The /t/ is pronounced as a glottal stop /ʔ/ (the sound
in the middle of the word 'uh-oh') when it is between
a vowel, /n/, or /r/ (including all r-controlled vowels)
and followed by an /n/ (including a syllabic /n/), /m/,
or non-syllabic /l/.
9

10. 1. Partner
2. certain
3. fitness
4. football
10

11. 4: Omitted /t/: /t/
The /t/ is pronounced as a glottal stop /ʔ/ (the sound
in the middle of the word 'uh-oh') when it is between
a vowel, /n/, or /r/ (including all r-controlled vowels)
and followed by an /n/ (including a syllabic /n/), /m/,
or non-syllabic /l/.
11

12. 4: Omitted /t/: /t/
An italicized /t/ means that the sound can be silent—
or omitted—from a word. This /t/ allophone varies the
most widely among native speakers, and even within
a single speaker's speech patterns. The /t/ is less
likely to be omitted when the speaker is emphasizing
the word for an reason. Also, among all
the /t/ allophones, this usage can be considered the
most informal and non-standardized. 12

13. 4: Omitted /t/: /t/
There are two scenarios where the /t/ is often
omitted.
▪ Scenario 1) The /t/ is optionally silent when it
follows /n/ and precedes a vowel
sound, /r/ (including all r-controlled vowels) or a
syllabic /l/.
1. Center
2. Gentle 13

14. 4: Omitted /t/: /t/
Scenario 2) In addition to the above instances of
omitting the /t/, it is often omitted when it occurs
between two consonant sounds (except the
consonants specifically mentioned for /t̬/ and glottal
stop). This is likely to occur when an -s ending is
added to a word.
1. prints
2. Acts
3. accepts
14

15. 1. Partner
2. certain
3. fitness
4. football
15

16. 1. Two toads totally tired.
2. The two-twenty-two train tore through the tunnel.
3. Mr. Tongue Twister tried to train his tongue to twist and turn, and
twit and twat to learn the letter T.
4. Two tiny tigers take two taxis to town.
5. We’ll beat a tattoo at twenty to two.
Short Tongue Twisters
16

17. Betty bought some butter,
but the butter was bitter,
so Betty bought some better butter
to make the bitter butter better.
Short Tongue Twisters
17

18. ▪ Ten tame tadpoles tucked tightly in a thin tall
tin.
Ten tame tadpoles tucked tightly in a thin tall tin
...
▪ Two toads, totally tired, trying to trot to
Tewkesbury.
Two toads, totally tired, trying to trot to
Short Tongue Twisters
18