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.
I'm excited to announce that I'm running another online course, so do check out my website
for details. You'll find on there all sorts of information about the course, who should
take the course, and requirements. I really hope you'll check it out and consider signing
up. I've had a blast with my first online course, and I'm looking forward to getting
to know you.
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.
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在这个美式英语发音视频中， 我将介绍如何
在对话中发音“to”这个词。
“to”这个词是介词，所以它是一个 虚词。 虚词通常
在句子中不重读。 而 'to'这个词甚至会减少。 减少意味着声音
会改变。 所以，'to' 本身：真正的 T 和 'oo' 就像在 'boo' 元音中一样。 但是，在一个句子中，
它会变成带有 schwa 音的 true T。 或者，它甚至可能变成 D 音和
schwa 音。 使用襟翼 T 发音 将使您的线条更加流畅。 我
查看了很多示例以试图 弄清楚：是否有规则说明何时
适合使用 Flap T？ 而且我已经决定 你可以在任何时候在“to”这个词中使用襟翼 T，
除非“to”这个词 跟在一个以 T 结尾的词之后。现在，如果这个规则
对你来说太混乱了，别担心 关于它。 你 总是可以用一个真正的 T 和
一个 schwa 来发音，而且这种减少很好。 然而 ，襟翼 T 会让事情变得
更平滑一点。
所以，让我们看一些例子。 我们去 吃饭了。 [3x] 现在你会注意到前面的单词
以 T 结尾，所以我发音 'to' 'to'。 真 T，schwa 音。 我没有发音两个T。
我们去吃饭了。 [2x]
来参加我的聚会。 在这里，我将 T 发音为襟翼。 啧啧啧。 来我的派对。 [2x]
比“来参加我的派对”流畅得多。 来我的派对。
我们去商店吧。 在这里，'to' 发音为 duh, duh。 去，去，去，去。
我们去商店吧。 我想得到更多。 想要，想要。 请注意，我在这里没有发音
两个 D。 想要。 'wanted' 结尾的第一个 D 是停止。 想要。 然后
我用襟翼 T/schwa 音发“to” 。 想要[3x]。 我想得到
更多。
你有没有注意到我没有 在“wanted”这个词中发T音。 我说希望，
我放弃了 T。 当 T 跟随 N 时，这并不少见。其他示例：“中心”
变成 cenner，cenner。 或者，interview 可以发音为 innerview、innerview。 去掉
这个真 T 可以使语音变得平滑。 即使 我删除了 T，-ed 结尾仍然遵循
以 T 或 D 结尾的单词的规则， 并且与“坐”元音和 D 辅音中的“ih”一起
发音。 通缉是一个相当普遍的 词。 不要害怕发音为 'wannid' [2x]
你会注意到许多以这种方式发音的母语人士 。
我想得到更多。
我心想... [2x] 在这里，我 用真正的 T 发音 'to'，tt，因为前面的单词
以 T 结尾。但请注意，我没有发音 两个 T。 我心想。 [2x]
我们要去看你的戏。 去， 去：拍打。 我们去看你的戏。
不要忘记减少和链接“到”这个词。 这是美式英语这种重读/非重读性质的一个非常重要的部分
。
就是这样，非常 感谢您使用 Rachel 的英语。
我很高兴地宣布我正在开设另一门 在线课程，所以请查看我的网站
了解详情。 你会在那里找到 关于课程、谁应该
参加课程以及要求的各种信息。 我真的 希望你能检查一下并考虑
注册。 我的第一个在线 课程很开心，我很期待
认识你。
不要停在那里。 享受我的真实 英语视频。 或者更熟悉
这个播放列表中的 IPA。 了解 我提供的在线课程，或查看我的最新
视频。