do you pronounce the "T" in "often"?

[CanuckAmok]

Without thinking about it too much, try it and see...

I don't, unless I make a conscious effort to do so.

[bif]

1. no.

[skypilot]

2. No

I think I was taught that it's supposed to be silent. Is that true? If it is, it shouldn't be. I've always thought the word sounded better when the "t" is pronounced.

[arwalden]

8. Also No. - "Off-en" flows easier than "Off-Ten"

[FatSlob]

3. Yes

Snooty upbringing. :)

[onebigbadwulf]

4. I do pronounce the T in often

but I always forget to pronounce the T in perfect. I sound like a retard.

[Mass_Liberal]

5. yes

[TrogL]

6. yes, but I'm a pronounciation Nazi

and a trained singer.

[beyurslf]

7. Yes

[youngred]

9. nope nt

[amazona]

10. no way

It's bad enough to be pretentious, but to be pretentious when you're actually wrong is really embarrassing. The T is silent.

[msanger]

11. sometimes I do and someimes I don't.

but more ofen than not, I don't.

[MAlibdem]

12. subtly

just like the b in subtly

[OhioStateProgressive]

13. both ways are correct

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=often&r=67

[aQuArius]

14. sadly, No

Where I come from, the T's are left out A LOT! My maiden name has a T and no one ever seemed to realize it was ever there, lol.

[ironflange]

15. I have noticed in the past that I use the T

But only someimes.

[Darranar]

16. Often, but not always.

[tobius]

17. all the time

[populistmom]

18. No, and it bugs me when people do

It's one of those pet peeve word pronunciations. Another one is Illinoisssssssssssssssssssss. :crazy: :grr:

I'm sorry to anyone that does though. I'm sure, overall, you are wonderful people despite this.

[confusionisnext]

19. Arbitrary

I don't.

But if you look at the etymology, the "en" was tacked on by analogy with selden (= seldom). The word thus derives from "oft", where the "t" was pronounced. So why get annoyed when it is pronounced in "often"?

[Kickin_Donkey]

20. Nope. Never.

I never hear anyone pronounce it with a T (other than on television). I live in California.

[truthspeaker]

21. no, and I was instructed not to

As a kid I was always told that t is silent.

[PAMod]

22. No, and hearing it drives me nuts.

[pippin]

23. it's not pretentious

if you're from a British background. It's a sort ofAmerican pretentiousness to put down an accent or pronunciation with which they are not familiar.

Have lived in the US for nearly forty years but in unguarded moments I am apt to slip back into "to-mah-to," or "pa-jah-mas," or pronounce the "t" in often without being conscious of the fact. So I'd hate it if any one attributes this to pretentiousness.

Other words most people don't know are pronounced differently in other parts of the world:

laboratory

aluminium

lieutenant

caribbean

:-)

[grannylib]

24. no and I find it kinds bugs me when others do, not sure why