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What is the rule for silent t?
When Is T Silent? The “rules” for silent T are these: if you see -STEN, -FTEN, or -STLE, you should assume that the T is silent. A lot of other silent letters are silent at the beginning (like G and K) or end (like B and N) of words.
How do you pronounce silent t?
The \t\ is silent. Why? Often has a medial /t/ that, like similar words such has “hasten” and “soften,” was once pronounced and is now typically silent. Unlike the similar words, pronouncing the “t” in “often” has returned in some modern usage.
Why does Whistle have a silent T?
As Bright explains, the “t” in these words is an acoustically “explosive” one, and to sound it after an “s” or an “f”—both of which expend “considerable breath”—is “especially difficult and obscure.” Consequently the “t” sound is assimilated into its surroundings and becomes silent.
Is the T in listen silent?
The t in “listen” is pronounced. It is not silent.
Is the T in winter Silent?
Many American English words contain a silent T. When a t comes after an n as in the words: winter, interview & twenty. 2. In words that end with “sten” as in: listen, fasten & moisten.
When did the T become silent?
The “t” had long been silent but it came back to life in the 19th century with the rise of literacy, when people seemed to feel that each letter in a word should be sounded. For some reason this didn’t happen with “soften,” whose “t” is always silent.
Is the T silent in ‘often’?
Generally the ‘t’ is silent like in ‘hasten’ and ‘soften’ but today some people still pronounce it. Learn more about the changing pronunciation of ‘often.’ Often has a medial /t/ that, like similar words such has ‘hasten’ and ‘soften,’ was once pronounced and is now typically silent.
Why is the T in “often” pronounced with a T?
As you might guess, the t was pronounced in the past, when the word began as a variant of oft (also spelled ofte in Middle English), which was the more common form until the 1500s. Oft is now archaic for most of the senses of often, but is still used in compound adjectives like oft-repeated and oft-quoted.
What is the phonetic spelling of the final letter T?
When spoken with an audible “t,” the phonetic spelling would be off·ten. Words that are French in origin and end with the letter “t” are examples of words where the final letter is not pronounced. A few words in the English language that have a silent “t” don’t really follow any specific rules.
What is the phonetic spelling of the word “off ten”?
*The word often is unique, as it can actually be properly pronounced with or without a silent “t,” based on the preference of the person who is speaking. When spoken with an audible “t,” the phonetic spelling would be off·ten.