Rule 1 of 6
Easy startUse a clear t
Start with a clear t in water, better and twenty. The full t we practise here is close to the t you already use in Kinyarwanda. Listen to the example, then keep that clear tongue contact when you repeat the word.
Your Kinyarwanda t as a starting point
The full t starts from the t you already say in Kinyarwanda. Keep it apart from d, so writing and riding stay two words, and don't let it slide towards the Kinyarwanda r.
start from your Kinyarwanda t: the tongue stops the air completely
start from your Kinyarwanda d: the same tongue position, with your voice on
Use a clear t in these practice words. This is a speaking exercise: spellings such as th and -tion follow other patterns, and some words have a silent t.
A full t : press the tip of your tongue on the ridge behind your top teeth so the air stops completely, feel the pressure build, then release it. A tapped t uses very brief tongue contact; you will hear it in the American comparison recordings.
Practise a clear t
Follow these steps with water, better and twenty.
- Listen
- Stop the air with your tongue
- Release and repeat
A clear t gives you a familiar movement to practise and helps distinguish words such as writing and riding. Listen to the American example to recognise the tapped t you may hear in conversation.
Full t words
| Word | Say this(Standard English) | Also heard(American) |
|---|---|---|
waterCambridge | woo-tə | waa-dər |
betterCambridge | be-tə | be-dər |
cityCambridge | si-ti | si-di |
twentyCambridge | twen-ti | twe-ni |
internetCambridge | in-tə-net | i-nər-net |
computerCambridge | kəm-pyuu-tə | kəm-pyuu-dər |
meetingCambridge | mii-ting | mii-ding |
buttonCambridge | ba-tən | ba'n |
importantCambridge | im-poo-tənt | im-por'nt |
a lot of | ə lo-təv | ə laa-dəv |
In the American column, ' means the air stops in your throat for a moment, as in the middle of 'uh-oh'. Practising a full t helps keep pairs like latter and ladder, or metal and medal, distinct when you speak.
Silent t
Don't say the t in these words. Say often as o-fən (of-tən is also correct).
Practise these sentences
- I'll meet you at twenty past eight.
- It's better to buy a bottle of water.
- Wait a little, I'm getting the tickets.