How do you pronounce LITTLE?

Question

The dictionary says it should be pronounced \ˈli-təl\
But when I hear it in audio, it sounds like "lirruh." I don't hear the T.
Should I pronoucne it "litoh" or "lirruh"?

Answer 1

It is pronounced LIH-dl, with a so-called "flapped r" between the first vowel and the l sound. This is native English pronunciation. Whenever a t or d is at the front of an unstressed syllable between vowels in English it is flapped to that d-ish sound. The people who say "t" are absolutely wrong. No native speaker of English puts a "t" there in normal speech. This is called a "spelling pronunciation" and is a sign of hypercorrectness which is not native--people see a "t" in the spelling system and think they should pronounce a "t". I guarantee you that when they are not thinking about it, they flap that intervocalic "t" just like normal people do. In native English speech, "writing" and "riding" are pronounced absolutely identically because of the flapping. The rule is: when "t" or "d" are at the front of an unstressed syllable, and between vowels, they are flapped.

Answer 2

The English [t] has at least 4 different pronunciations, depending on its position within the breath group. When followed by 'dark [l]' it loses most of its distinctive 't' sound - in American English is becomes voiced or disappears completely.

Answer 3

English accent: Le till or li til

Amerrican: Lil

Answer 4

If you have a cleft pallet, a hair lip, AND a dipthong then by all means pronounce it lirruh. Otherwise, stick with 'li-təl.

Answer 5

Depends what accent you're listening to. LIT-TEL. The tees are pronounced.

Answer 6

listen to it by yourself
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=little
click on the audio sound (no need to install software)

Answer 7

u pronounce it lil

Answer 8

lit ill

Answer 9

lih-dil

Answer 10

--->liddle