In this American English pronunciation video, I'm going to go over how to pronounce the
word 'to' in conversation.
The word 'to' is a preposition, so it's a function word. Function words will normally
be unstressed in a sentence. And the word 'to' will even reduce. Reduce means a sound
will change. So, 'to' on its own: true T with the 'oo' as in 'boo' vowel. But, in a sentence,
it will be come to, true T with the schwa sound. Or, it might even become to, D sound
with the schwa sound. Using the flap T pronunciation will smooth out your line even more. I've
looked at lots of examples to try to figure out: is there a rule for when it's appropriate
to use the Flap T or not? And I've decided you can use the flap T in the word 'to' any
time except when the word 'to' follows a word that ends in a T. Now, if this rule is too
confusing for you, don't worry about it. You can always pronounce it with a true T and
a schwa, and that reduction is fine. However, a flap T will smooth things out just a little
bit more.
So, let's look at some examples. We went to dinner. [3x] Now you'll notice the word before
ends in T, so I'm pronouncing 'to' 'to'. True T, schwa sound. I'm not pronouncing two T's.
We went to dinner. [2x]
Come to my party. Here I'm pronouncing the T as a flap. Duh, duh, duh. Come to my party. [2x]
Much smoother than 'Come to my party'. Come to my party.
Let's go to the store. Here, 'to' is pronounced duh, duh. Go to, go to, go to the, go to the.
Let's go to the store. I wanted to get more. Wanted to, wanted to. Notice I'm not pronouncing
two D's here. Wanted to. The first D, at the end of 'wanted', is a stop. Wanted to. Then
I'm pronouncing 'to' with the flap T/schwa sound. Wanted to [3x]. I wanted to get some
more.
Did you notice that I did not pronounce the T sound in the word 'wanted'. I said wanted,
I dropped the T. This is not an uncommon practice when the T follows an N. Other examples: 'center'
becomes cenner, cenner. Or, interview can be pronounced innerview, innerview. Dropping
this true T smooths out speech. Even though I dropped the T, the -ed ending still follows
the rule for a word that ends in T or D, and is pronounced with the 'ih' as in 'sit' vowel
and the D consonant. Wanted is a fairly common word. Don't be afraid to pronounce it 'wannid' [2x]
You'll notice many native speakers pronouncing it this way.
I wanted to get some more.
I thought to myself ... [2x] Here I'm pronouncing 'to', tt, with a true T because the word before
ends in a T. Notice though, I am not pronouncing two T's. I thought to myself. [2x]
We're going to your play. Going to, going to: flap. We're going to your play.
Don't forget to reduce and link the word 'to'. It's a very important part of this stressed
/ unstressed nature of American English.
That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.
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Don't stop there. Have fun with my real-life English videos. Or get more comfortable with
the IPA in this play list. Learn about the online courses I offer, or check out my latest
video.