/t/

Place the tip of your tongue firmly against the alveolar ridge - the bumpy area just behind your upper front teeth. Build up air pressure, then release it in a quick burst.

In American English, /t/ changes depending on where it appears:

Word-initial /t/: At the start of words like "top" or "time," pronounce /t/ with a strong puff of air (aspiration). Hold your hand in front of your mouth - you should feel a burst of air.

Flapped /t/: Between vowels, Americans pronounce /t/ as a quick tap - almost like a light "d." This happens in "butter," "water," and "better." Your tongue briefly flicks the ridge rather than stopping there. This is why "writer" and "rider" sound nearly identical.

Glottal /t/: Before an unstressed /n/, many Americans replace /t/ with a glottal stop - a catch in the throat like the sound in "uh-oh." You'll hear this in "button," "mountain," and "kitten."

Word-final /t/: At the end of words like "cat," /t/ is often unreleased - your tongue touches the ridge but you don't release the air burst.

To master the flapped /t/, say "butter" quickly and naturally. If it sounds like "budder," you're doing it right! The flap is lighter and faster than a true /d/ - your tongue tip quickly taps the roof of your mouth.