How do you pronounce often is the T silent?

The \t\ is silent. Why? Often has a medial /t/ that, like similar words such has “hasten” and “soften,” was once pronounced and is now typically silent. Unlike the similar words, pronouncing the “t” in “often” has returned in some modern usage.

How do you pronounce this word occasionally?

Break ‘occasionally’ down into sounds: [UH] + [KAY] + [ZHUH] + [NUH] + [LEE] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.

Is the T silent in ‘often’?

Generally the ‘t’ is silent like in ‘hasten’ and ‘soften’ but today some people still pronounce it. Learn more about the changing pronunciation of ‘often.’ Often has a medial /t/ that, like similar words such has ‘hasten’ and ‘soften,’ was once pronounced and is now typically silent.

Why is the T in “often” pronounced with a T?

As you might guess, the t was pronounced in the past, when the word began as a variant of oft (also spelled ofte in Middle English), which was the more common form until the 1500s. Oft is now archaic for most of the senses of often, but is still used in compound adjectives like oft-repeated and oft-quoted.

Which syllable do you Drop the T on?

Notice that the T is always dropped on the non-stressed syllable in a word. Take the word “potato.” There are two T-sounds. If you were glottalizing the word, you’d do it on the second T, which falls in the non-stressed syllable (the last one): “po-TAY-oh.”

What is the correct pronunciation of ȮF-tən?

The pronunciation (ȯf-tən), which is not recognized in dictionaries, is now frequent in the south of England, and is often used in singing. The pronunciation ȯf-tən, until recently generally considered as more or less illiterate, is not uncommon among the educated in some sections, and is often used in singing.