/t/ — Choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol

Analyze the question

You are asked to find the word that contains the sound /t/, the voiceless alveolar plosive. This is the plain "t" sound, as in top or ten.

Concept

Spelling can mislead you in phonetics questions. Letter combinations like "tch", "ti" and "th" often represent different sounds from /t/:

• "tch" is usually /tʃ/ (as in church)
• "ti" before a vowel is often /ʃ/ (as in nation)
• "th" is /θ/ or /ð/

Solution: transcribe each word

• A. tidy /ˈtaɪdi/. It begins with /t/. ✔
• B. catch /kætʃ/. The ending is /tʃ/, a single affricate sound, not a plain /t/. ✘
• C. portion /ˈpɔːʃn/. The "ti" is /ʃ/. ✘
• D. thick /θɪk/. The "th" is /θ/. ✘

Only tidy contains the plain /t/ sound.

Answer: A

Exam tip

When you see /t/, look for a "t" that is pronounced on its own. Be careful with "tch", "ti" and "th", which are the usual traps. Say each word aloud and listen for the sound.