/t/
consonant · voiceless
as in tea
How to make the /t/ sound
voiced voiceless
- 1Touch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the top teeth.
- 2Release with a small burst of air.
- 3Note: silent in "listen", "castle", "ballet"; American English often flaps it in "water".
⚠ The most common mistake
Making it too hard between vowels in American English — "water" uses a soft D-like flap.
Especially tricky for speakers of: French, Dutch.
Train your ear: /t/ vs /d/
These two words differ by exactly one sound. Tap both — can you hear it?
Practice: Record & Compare
Record yourself saying tea, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.
Practice words with /t/
Tap the speaker to hear each word; tap the word for its full pronunciation page.