Thread

1. throwawayk7h · 1789856692 · focus · HN ↗

   I'm always curious why sometimes I pronounce the as /ðə/ ("thuh") and sometimes as /ði/ ("thee"). I don't really know what governs this but I expect it's the presence of a vowel at the start of the following word. However, only some vowels. Does anyone have an answer?

   1. stackghost · 1789857506 · focus · HN ↗

      > However, only some vowels

      Pretty sure it’s all vowels isn’t it?

      “Thee”: apple, evening, island, offer, underpass

      “Thus”: any other words where you don’t need to avoid a glottal stop to differentiate the word.

      1. stvltvs · 1789858428 · focus · HN ↗

         [dead]

      2. stackghost · 1789877719 · focus · HN ↗

         I realized long after the edit window expired that autocorrect changed it to “thus”.
      3. throwawayk7h · 1789884836 · focus · HN ↗

         Hmm... I think an /u/ ("oo") triggers "thuh" for me, as in "the ubermensch." But that might just be my idiolect.

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