Have you noticed that American English speakers say water and not water?
The T sound that Americans use in the word water is called a flap T. In the next few minutes,
I'm gonna teach you about this sound and how to pronounce it.
By the way, I hope you enjoy this type of short educational episode.
I'm gonna make more of these to help you with some of the technical elements of English.
Okay, there are different types of T sounds in American English.
Not every T is pronounced the same.
In many words, like in water, the T can become a flap T in American English.
To make the flap T, you quickly hit your tongue against the top of your mouth.
Listen to these two words.
Matter, ladder.
The first word is spelled with two T's and the second word is spelled with two D's when we're talking about a ladder that you climb.
However, these T's and D's are pronounced the same in American English.
Matter, ladder.
That's
because the T sound in matter is a flap T. and the flap T sounds just like the D sound in latter.
Now, listen to these two words.
Hated, faded.
The first word is spelled with a T and the second word is spelled with a D,
but these letters are pronounced the same.