How To Pronounce “that”

that

function word

Strong form

Used as a demonstrative, or for emphasis.

Phonemic

/ðæt/

Phonetic

[ðæt̚]

e.g. What is that?

/wɒt.ɪzˈðæt/

Phonemic

/ðæt/

e.g. What is that?

/wʌt.ɪzˈðæt/

Weak form

Used as a conjunction or relative word, in connected speech.

Phonemic

/ðət/

Phonetic

[ðət̚]

e.g. I know that he came.

/aɪ.nəʊ.ðət.hiˈkeɪm/

Phonemic

/ðət/

e.g. I know that he came.

/aɪ.noʊ.ðət.hiˈkeɪm/

“that” is a function word, so it has more than one pronunciation. In normal connected speech the weak form is usual. The strong form is used when the word is stressed, said on its own or at the end of a phrase.

Strong form. In British English it is /ðæt/, and in American English it is /ðæt/. It is used as a demonstrative, or for emphasis.

Weak form. In British English it is /ðət/, and in American English it is /ðət/. It is used as a conjunction or relative word, in connected speech.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Questions About That

How do you pronounce that in British English?

Strong form, /ðæt/. Weak form, /ðət/.

How do you pronounce that in American English?

Strong form, /ðæt/. Weak form, /ðət/.

What is the weak form of that?

The weak form of that is /ðət/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

Search All 10,380 Words In The App

Other Function Words With Weak Forms

Nearby Words

Learn English and Literature with Adroit Tutors on our website, and order course materials there too.