/d/ as in DAY /deɪ/, LADDER /ˈlædɚ/, and BED /bɛd/.
PRONOUNCING /d/
TONGUE TIP: is firmly pressed against gum ridge behind upper front teeth.
AIRSTREAM:
is stopped and then
exploded.
VOCAL CORDS: are vibrating.
The sound /d/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter d when it begins a word or follows n or l in Spanish.
SPANISH KEY WORDS WITH /d/
Spanish words have this sound when d begins a word or follows n or l.
KEY WORDS:
mundo mandar aldea decir
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
The sound /d/ should be produced with the tip of your tongue touching the upper gum ridge and NOT the back of your upper front teeth or placed between your teeth as in many Spanish words. If you don't touch the upper gum ridge when saying /d/ it will contribute to your accent. It might even sound like /ð/.
EXAMPLES:
If you say /ð/ instead of /d/:
ladder /ˈlædɚ/ will sound like lather /ˈlæðɚ/
breeding /ˈbridɪŋ/ will sound like breathing /ˈbriðɪŋ/
When /d/ is the last sound in a word, many Spanish speakers forget to make their vocal cords vibrate. This will make /d/ sound like a /t/ and confuse your listeners.
EXAMPLES:
If you say /t/ instead of /d/:
card /kɑrd/ will sound like cart /kɑrt/
bed /bɛd/ will sound like bet /bɛt/
Your /d/ will be perfect if you press the tip of your tongue against the gum ridge behind your upper front teeth and add voicing. Don't forget to practice /d/ every day!
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /d/. Pronounce them carefully. Be sure your tongue tip touches the upper gum ridge.
/d/ At the Beginning
/d/ In the Middle
/d/ At the End
do /du/
dog /dɔɡ/
day /deɪ/
desk /dɛsk/
door /dɔr/
dime /daɪm/
down /daʊn/
dozen /ˈdʌzən/
doctor /ˈdɑktɚ/
different /ˈdɪfrənt/
body /ˈbɑdi/
soda /ˈsoʊdə/
under /ˈʌndɚ/
today /təˈdeɪ/
older /oʊldɚ/
order /ˈɔrdɚ/window /ˈwɪndoʊ/pudding /ˈpʊdɪŋ/Sunday /ˈsʌndeɪ/
medicine
/ˈmɛdəsən/
bad /bæd/did /dɪd/end /ɛnd/said /sɛd/food /fud/card /kɑrd/cold /koʊld/bread /brɛd/build /bɪld/would /wʊd/
EXERCISE B
Read the following pairs of words aloud. Be sure to press your tongue tip against the upper gum ridge and to make your vocal cords vibrate for /d/. Remember to prolong any vowel BEFORE the consonant /d/.
/d/
/t/
bed /bɛd/mad /mæd/need /nid/hard /hɑrd/bride /braɪd/hide /haɪd/wade /weɪd/
bet /bɛt/
mat /mæt/
neat /nit/
heart /hɑrt/
bright /braɪt/
height /haɪt/
wait /weɪt/
EXERCISE C
Read the following phrases and sentences aloud. The boldface words should be pronounced with /d/.
a good idea
ə ɡʊd aɪˈdiə
one hundred dollars
wʌn ˈhʌndrɪd ˈdɑlɚz
end of the road
ɛnd ʌv ðə roʊd
a bad cold
ə bæd koʊld
What’s today’s date?
wʌts təˈdeɪz deɪt?
How do you do?
haʊ du yu du?
What did you order for dinner?
wʌt dɪd yu ˈɔrdɚ fɔr ˈdɪnɚ?
Wendy is a wonderful dancer.
ˈwendi ɪz ə ˈwʌndɚfəl ˈdænsɚ.
We landed in London at dawn.
wi ˈlændɪd ɪn ˈlʌndən æt dɔn.
Send dad a birthday card.
sɛnd dæd ə ˈbɚθdeɪ kɑrd.