the /t/ sound in "water"

[KevinXu]

Hi.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the /t/ sound in the word "water" is pronounced as /t̬/ for American pronunciation. That little downward arrow under the letter "t" is a IPA diacritic and means "Voiced". However, I remember I have learned from other sources that American speakers would pronounce the /t/ sound of "water" as a flap t (IPA symbol /ɾ/). I'm confused. Are voiced t (/t̬/) and flap t (/ɾ/) the same thing? How should I pronounce a voiced t? Make the vocal cord vibrate? How is a voiced t different from a /d/ sound? Could you please explain it? Thank you very much.

 

[Skrej]

Many native AmE speakers pronounce 'water' closer to 'wader', especially in certain dialects.

 

[BobK]

Incidentally this is why some colloquial expressions work better with an American accent. Two cases that spring to mind are 'work smarter not harder' and 'pedal to the metal': -n each case there's a rhyme which British speakers lose.

 

[emsr2d2]

As an American, I'd definitely say that "water" is pronounced more with a "D" sound. I think the British would use more of a "T" sound.

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