Dental t and d

/t̪ d̪/

Accent-Specific Coaching

For American Speakers

English t and d are alveolar — tongue touches the ridge BEHIND your upper teeth. Spanish t and d are dental — tongue touches the TEETH themselves. Move your tongue tip forward about 5mm to touch the back of your upper front teeth. The difference is subtle but native speakers hear it. It gives Spanish its characteristic crisp, bright quality.

For British Speakers

Move tongue forward to the teeth. RP t/d are alveolar — Spanish needs dental. Also drop aspiration.

For Australian / NZ Speakers

Move tongue to teeth for t and d. Also: no aspiration on t. Spanish t is crisp and unaspirated.

For Irish Speakers

Some Irish English dialects already use dental t and d — if yours does, this may be a direct transfer. If not, move tongue to the teeth. Either way, the adjustment is small for Irish speakers.

For Scottish Speakers

Move tongue forward to touch the teeth. Also: no aspiration on Spanish t.

For Indian Speakers

Direct transfer — and one of your biggest advantages. Hindi त and द are dental stops — tongue touches the teeth, exactly where Spanish t and d live. While other English speakers must learn to move their tongue forward, your natural t and d are already in the right place. Just use your Hindi dental stops for Spanish. Also, your unaspirated Hindi त matches Spanish t perfectly (English aspirates its t, Spanish doesn't).

For South African Speakers

Move tongue to the teeth. Drop aspiration on t. Same adjustment as other non-dental English accents.

For Nigerian / W. African Speakers

Move your tongue forward to touch the back of your upper front teeth for both t and d. Nigerian English t/d are typically alveolar — the Spanish sounds are further forward. The difference is subtle but matters. Also: no puff of air on t (unaspirated).