Are you supposed to pronounce the T in often?
A: The word “often” can be pronounced with a silent “t” (the more common pronunciation) or with an audible “t.” How “correct” is the second pronunciation? That depends on the dictionary you consult. Both are correct, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.).
How do the British pronounce often?
Is it Offen or often?
Both pronunciations for OFTEN are found in the dictionary. Therefore both are correct. (variant pronunciations) Actual pronunciation is usually /ɔf·ən/ and this is the preferred pronunciation. For some reason, many people think they should pronounce most English words as written.
Why is the T silent in often?
A: The short answer is that the “t” in many words is silent because it’s too difficult or awkward to pronounce and has become assimilated into the surrounding consonants. As we said in our blog posting about “often,” the word can be properly pronounced either with or without a “t” sound.