Looking for when the T goes silent (center, internet, winter, twenty)? Read the Silent T guide: /en/blog/silent-t-american-english-pronunciation
You read "water" and expect a clear T. But what you hear is closer to "WAH-der." No, people aren’t being lazy; this is a real sound: the American flap T.
If you speak Spanish, you already know this sound perfectly. It’s the quick tap in the middle of "pero" (not the rolled R of "perro"). In phonetics, it’s written as /ɾ/.
What is the flap T?
In American English, the letters T and D often become a quick tap /ɾ/. It’s fast: your tongue touches the roof of your mouth for a moment and jumps back. Not a full T, not a D, just a tap.
Think of it like the soft Spanish R in "cara" or "pero".
Sounds like this in real words
- water → /ˈwɔɾər/ (sounds like "WAH-der")
- city → /ˈsɪɾi/
- better → /ˈbɛɾər/
- ladder → /ˈlæɾər/
- meeting → /ˈmiːɾɪŋ/
- today → /təˈdeɪ/ (D is naturally voiced and often sounds like a flap in fast speech)
The rule (the one you’ll actually use)
T or D becomes a flap /ɾ/ when it’s between vowels and the next syllable is unstressed.
That’s it. If there’s a vowel before and a vowel after, and the second syllable isn’t stressed, expect a flap.
Examples:
- beT-ter → /ˈbɛɾər/
- ciTy → /ˈsɪɾi/
- waTer → /ˈwɔɾər/
- laDDer → /ˈlæɾər/
- wriTer → /ˈɹaɪɾɚ/
- raDer → /ˈɹaɪɾɚ/
Across words (very common)
- get it → /ˈɡɛɾ ɪt/
- got it → /ˈɡɑɾ ɪt/
- put it on → /ˌpʊɾɪˈdɑn/
- a lot of → often /əˈlɑɾəv/ (sounds like "a LAH-rav")
When it DOESN’T flap
- At the start or end of a word: tea, hat
- After an S at the start of a syllable: station, stop (no flap; different process in "station")
- When the next syllable is stressed: aTTack, reTain, hoTel
- With clear consonant clusters that block it: apt, attempt
Special note:
- mountain, button → the T is usually a glottal stop [ʔ] plus a syllabic N: [ˈmaʊʔn̩], [ˈbʌʔn̩] (not a flap)
- internet → can vary: [ˈɪnɚˌnɛt] or [ˈɪnɾɚˌnɛt] in casual speech
Writer vs. rider (why they sound the same)
Both words usually use a flap /ɾ/: writer → /ˈɹaɪɾɚ/, rider → /ˈɹaɪɾɚ/.
So, how do natives tell them apart? Mostly by the vowel. Before a true T, the vowel is slightly shorter and tenser (a subtle effect called "vowel raising"). In real life, context does the rest: "The rider won" vs. "The writer won".
How to make the sound (quick and easy)
- Put your tongue where you’d make a Spanish T/D (just behind your upper teeth).
- Tap quickly, don’t hold it.
- Keep the airflow going. It should feel effortless.
Say these:
- "city, better, water, lader, writer"
Fast checklist (memorize this)
- Between vowels? Flap.
- Next syllable unstressed? Flap.
- After S or before a stressed vowel? No flap.
- Word edges or in clusters like "apt"? No flap.
Plenty of examples (with IPA)
- betty /ˈbɛɾi/
- photo /ˈfoʊɾoʊ/ (American casual speech)
- forty /ˈfɔɾi/
- metal /ˈmɛɾl̩/ (often with syllabic L)
- cater /ˈkeɪɾɚ/
- waiting /ˈweɪɾɪŋ/
- Canada /ˈkænədə/ (D often sounds like a flap in flow)
Common phrases
- "Got it?" → /ˈɡɑɾ ɪt/
- "Let it in." → /ˌlɛɾɪˈdɪn/
- "Put it away." → /ˌpʊɾɪɾəˈweɪ/
Exceptions and gray areas (keep it simple)
- Careful speech or emphasis can bring back a clear T or D: "I said a-ttend, not a-tend."
- Across some morpheme or word boundaries, speakers vary: "at all" can be [æɾˈɔːl] or a careful [æt ˈɔːl].
- Proper names and brand pronunciations vary by speaker and region.
For Spanish speakers: your superpower
You already make /ɾ/ every day. Use the same quick tap from "cara" in English words like "better" and "city". Focus on rhythm: English relaxes many unstressed syllables. If you haven’t yet, read about the schwa sound. It explains why vowels change and why the flap T shows up so often.
Practice
- Minimal pairs: writer/rider, metal/medal, waiting/wading
- Sentences: "It’s better to wait a minute." → say it fast; you’ll hear 3 flaps.
Try our practice tools:
Once you start hearing the flap T, you can’t un-hear it. Use it, and your English will instantly sound more natural, without working harder.
FAQ
Is the flap T the same as a D?
Not exactly. It is a quick tap that sits between T and D. In fast American English, both can sound like a flap between vowels.
Do British speakers use the flap T?
Less often. You will hear more clear Ts and glottal stops in many UK accents. American English uses the flap more consistently.
When should I not use the flap?
At word edges, before a stressed syllable, and in clusters like "apt". In careful or emphatic speech, keep a clear T or D.