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Published: Aug. 7, 2015, 8:03 a.m.

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As you have probably discovered, unlike many languages where the letters or sounds are pronounced as they are written, English is not like that. So often, English letters, sounds, and words are not pronounced as you would think they would be.

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In this tip, Gabby explains how the \\u201cT\\u201d sound can be made in different ways, especially in American English. Sometimes it is pronounced as a \\u201cD\\u201d as in the word \\u201ccity\\u201d but in other examples it is pronounced as a \\u201cch\\u201d sound. We see this in words like \\u201cnature\\u201d and Adventure.\\u201d It is extremely important in English to learn how these words are pronounced because if you merely read them as they appear, it might not be understandable to a native English speaker.

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Go Natural English is a really great tool for learning to speak and understand American English in a natural way. Unlike the way languages are taught in textbooks, most people speak using a lot of idioms and phrases that cannot be translated literally. They just will not make sense. Immerse yourself in the English language and experience it like it was meant to be \\u2013 naturally.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmTnYQjK1w

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Episode transcript below:

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Hey there! How\\u2019s it going?

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In this English tip episode, I have a question from Lamine.

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Lamine is a Go Natural English audience member, and Lamine wants to know, \\u201cwhy do we pronounce \\u2018natural\\u2019 with a [ch] sound?\\u201d

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Didn\\u2019t you say that a \\u201cT\\u201d between two vowels makes a \\u201cD\\u201d sound?

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Lamine, that\\u2019s a great question.

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So, let\\u2019s talk pronunciation.

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Yes, sometimes when you have a \\u201cD\\u201d (sic) between two vowels like \\u201ccity\\u201d you have a \\u201cD\\u201d sound instead of a \\u201cT\\u201d sound.

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However, there are plenty of exceptions.

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As always, with English, there are exceptions.

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So, words like \\u201cnature\\u201d, \\u201cadventure\\u201d, \\u201cfuture\\u201d are all exceptions to that rule of vowel-T-vowel.

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So, these are words that instead of saying \\u201ct\\u201d we say \\u201cch\\u201d especially in American English.

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So, one more time \\u2013 \\u201cnature\\u201d or \\u201cnatural\\u201d like Go Natural English, \\u201cadventure\\u201d and future.\\u201d

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So, that is how you really pronounce a \\u201cT\\u201d in those example words.

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Now, of course the \\u201cT\\u201d can be pronounced in many different ways in English.

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What I recommend is to have a lot of exposure to English.

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You can do this in many different ways.

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You can find some materials like music, or perhaps news, or stories in audio format in English and listen to English every day, especially when you have some time where your ears are free.

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A great way to do this is with podcasts.

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Go Natural English is also a podcast which you can download for free on iTunes for ios and on Stitcher for your Android device.

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That way when you\\u2019re in the gym or when you\\u2019re on the train or the bus or maybe when you\\u2019re doing something at home like cooking or cleaning or whatever you have to do, you can listen with your ears while you do other things with your eyes, with your activities.

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You can make English a part of your life that way, and that is the way to really become comfortable with the different sounds of English.

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There are many different sounds, many different ways to say the same letter, and so it\\u2019s important to have as much English in your life as possible.

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I invite you to visit me at gonaturalenglish.com where I\\u2019d like to give you a free eBook that will help you more with your English fluency.

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Also on the website you can find out about the Go Natural English premium course that\\u2019s available for you to learn more natural fluent English, the way that Americans have conversation in daily life.

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This is not your traditional English class but I\\u2019d like you to come over to the site and learn more about it there.

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Now, I\\u2019ll talk to you real soon in another English tip here on YouTube, but in the meantime why don\\u2019t you come over and join the conversation with us on facebook.'