How to pronounce "þat" in English
æt
AT
Primary stress: AT
Hear native speakers say þat in context across real video clips
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “þat”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
AT
Elevated pitch, sustained vowel length, and full acoustic clarity.
As a single-syllable word, "þat" receives full primary stress when spoken in isolation, though it may take a reduced weak form in connected speech when acting as a function word.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Single-syllable words like "þat" carry primary acoustic prominence in isolation, but can be swallowed in rapid connected speech.
How Native Speakers Say It: Sustain vowel clarity without rushing into the trailing consonant. Elevate pitch slightly when "þat" carries the primary contrast or new information in a sentence.
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When "þat" is followed by a word starting with a vowel, glide the final consonant into the opening vowel (e.g. "þat is" sounds like "þat-iz").
In natural sentences, avoid over-stressing "þat" unless it conveys the core contrast or focal point of your message.
Authentic Spoken Quotes from Native Video Context
“SIÞEN þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at Troye, Þe borȝ brittened and brent to brondeȝ and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt”— MIT OpenCourseWareWatch clip
“Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swyþe, With gret bobbaunce þat burȝe he biges vpon fyrst, And neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now”— MIT OpenCourseWareWatch clip
“Watz tried for his tricherie, þe trewest on erthe: Hit watz Ennias þe athel, and his highe kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces, and patrounes”— MIT OpenCourseWareWatch clip
Practice Speaking “þat”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
SIÞEN þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at Troye, Þe borȝ brittened and brent to brondeȝ and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt
Hear it in context: “þat”
3 clipsThe English word “þat” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as æt (phonetic respelling: AT). Phonologically, it consists of 1 syllable (AT), pronounced as a single stressed monosyllable. Grammatically, “þat” functions as a preposition, noun, verb, adjective and acts as an English heteronym where syllable stress shifts between noun (initial-syllable stress) and verb (second-syllable stress) usage. SayItVid indexes 3 authentic English video clips demonstrating how native speakers articulate “þat” in natural connected speech across American (US: 3 sampled), British (UK), and Australian (AUS) accents, including verified broadcasts from MIT OpenCourseWare.
Spoken Video Transcripts & Contextual Quotes (3 Verified Clips)
- 🇺🇸 USMIT OpenCourseWareClip #1 · @1:11
“"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" in the original Middle English. SIÞEN þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at Troye, Þe borȝ brittened and brent to brondeȝ and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt Þe borȝ brittened and brent to brondeȝ and askez,”
- 🇺🇸 USMIT OpenCourseWareClip #2 · @1:33
“bicome Welneȝe of al þe wele in þe west iles. Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swyþe, With gret bobbaunce þat burȝe he biges vpon fyrst, And neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now fyrst, And neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now”
- 🇺🇸 USMIT OpenCourseWareClip #3 · @1:21
“Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt Watz tried for his tricherie, þe trewest on erthe: Hit watz Ennias þe athel, and his highe kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces, and patrounes Hit watz Ennias þe athel, and his highe kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces, and patrounes”
Definition & Meaning: “þat”
- In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
- The at sign (@).
- Rare form of @; to reply to or talk to someone, either online or face-to-face. (from the practice of targeting a message or reply to someone online by writing @name)
- Initialism of antitank.
Example Sentences (3)
- “Caesar was at Rome.”
- “She's at Oxford University, studying chemistry.”
- “SIÞEN þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at Troye, Þe borȝ brittened and brent to brondeȝ and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wroȝt”
Pronounce: “þat”
- Pronunciation:
- AT
- Syllables:
- AT
- Primary stress:
- AT
- IPA:
- æt
- Hear it in context
- þat
Words that Rhyme with “þat”
-ætWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"þat" (⁄æt⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "þat" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about þat
How do you pronounce “þat”?
“þat” is pronounced ⁄æt⁄ (AT). Listen to the native-speaker clips above to hear it in real conversation.
Where is the stress in “þat”?
The primary stress in “þat” is on “AT”. Listen for that stressed syllable in the clips above.
What does “þat” mean?
In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
How can I hear “þat” used in real sentences?
This page has 3 real-world video examples of “þat” with synchronized subtitles. Use Previous / Next (or ← / → keys) to hear each one at the exact moment it is spoken.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “þat”?
Single-syllable words like "þat" carry primary acoustic prominence in isolation, but can be swallowed in rapid connected speech. Sustain vowel clarity without rushing into the trailing consonant. Elevate pitch slightly when "þat" carries the primary contrast or new information in a sentence.