# Rule 1: Use a clear *t*

Easy start. Rule 1 of 6.

> **The rule:** Practise a full *t* in words such as water, better and twenty.

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.

**Figure: 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_.

- writing, metal [sound](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/snd-t.mp3?v=6bf89a5949d1): rough starting point Kinyarwanda t (start from your Kinyarwanda _t_: the tongue stops the air completely)
- riding, medal [sound](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/snd-d.mp3?v=98fe8fbce440): rough starting point Kinyarwanda d (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_.

> **How to check:**
>
> A full _t_ [t](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/snd-t.mp3?v=6bf89a5949d1): 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.

**Figure: Practise a clear _t_.** Follow these steps with water, better and twenty.

1. Listen [t](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/snd-t.mp3?v=6bf89a5949d1)
2. Stop the air with your tongue
3. Release and repeat

> **Why:**
>
> 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

**Words with a full _t_**

| Word | Say this (Standard English) | Also heard (American) |
| - | - | - |
| water | **woo**-tə [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-water.mp3?v=5288107140a4) | **waa**-dər [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-water.mp3?v=ed889c2f4234) |
| better | **be**-tə [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-better.mp3?v=4390dbdf3784) | **be**-dər [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-better.mp3?v=60da9c3fe64e) |
| city | **si**-ti [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-city.mp3?v=0b2f0408f714) | **si**-di [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-city.mp3?v=0c430f87982f) |
| twenty | **twen**-ti [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-twenty.mp3?v=df5437a93d6a) | **twe**-ni [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-twenty.mp3?v=a79f3140c921) |
| internet | **in**-tə-net [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-internet.mp3?v=a169b5398fa8) | **i**-nər-net [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-internet.mp3?v=5b108f2d4d1f) |
| computer | kəm-**pyuu**-tə [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-computer.mp3?v=73aa254edf80) | kəm-**pyuu**-dər [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-computer.mp3?v=9fc54ed85d3d) |
| meeting | **mii**-ting [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-meeting.mp3?v=32cc7a75685a) | **mii**-ding [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-meeting.mp3?v=c6d6ab98b26a) |
| button | **ba**-tən [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-button.mp3?v=d4a09de0a8bc) | **ba**'n [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-button.mp3?v=047cfe92f4dc) |
| important | im-**poo**-tənt [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-important.mp3?v=0fed6902ce8d) | im-**por**'nt [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-important.mp3?v=7c4971a9d5b6) |
| a lot of | ə **lo**-təv [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/t-a-lot-of.mp3?v=6653f8c2036b) | ə **laa**-dəv [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/us/t-a-lot-of.mp3?v=ea10a250e3ef) |

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).

**Silent _t_ (don't say it)**

| Word | Say this (Standard English) | Note |
| - | - | - |
| listen | **li**-sən [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-listen.mp3?v=6597aa185a84) | |
| castle | **kaa**-səl [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-castle.mp3?v=492a891a6cfe) | |
| whistle | **wi**-səl [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-whistle.mp3?v=fbd1bcb4cf18) | |
| fasten | **faa**-sən [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-fasten.mp3?v=dd2c68083328) | |
| Christmas | **kris**-məs [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-christmas.mp3?v=7b37379b4959) | |
| mortgage | **moo**-gij [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-mortgage.mp3?v=25eb1cfa2117) | |
| often | **o**-fən [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/st-often.mp3?v=82fbb58b06da) | **of**-tən is also correct |

## Practise these sentences

- I'll meet you at twenty past eight. [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/s-t-1.mp3?v=e545abc41a94)
- It's better to buy a bottle of water. [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/s-t-2.mp3?v=5488f4031863)
- Wait a little, I'm getting the tickets. [audio](https://clear-english.rw/audio/gb/s-t-3.mp3?v=60c31c83dcba)

---

From Clear English Rwanda: https://clear-english.rw/rules/say-every-t

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