American English feature
The American glottal stop: the “swallowed” t in button
In button, mountain and certain, Americans don't release the t. The air stops in the throat for an instant, like the catch in “uh-oh”, and the n follows straight away: “buh-ʔn”.
It's written [ʔ]. American English uses it in a few clear places. Unlike some British accents, it doesn't replace a t between vowels: water has a flap, not a glottal stop.
[ʔ]
the glottal stop
How to do it
- 1Say “uh-oh”: the little catch between the two parts is a glottal stop.
- 2In button, stop the air in your throat where the t would be.
- 3Go straight into the n, through your nose, without a vowel: “buh-ʔn”, not “buh-tən”.
- 4Don't release a puff of air for the t.
When it happens
Tap an example to hear it said naturally.
T before an -en or -ain ending
The clearest case: t followed by a syllable that is just an n sound.
T before another consonant
Inside a word or between words, a t before a consonant is often swallowed.
T at the end of a phrase
A final t is often cut off in the throat instead of released.
When it doesn't
Between vowels
Water, better and city have the flap, not a glottal stop.
Before a stressed syllable
Attend and retain keep a full t.
At the start of a word
Ten, talk and today always have a real t.
Common mistakes
Releasing a full t: “but-ton”
It sounds careful and spelled-out. Stop the air in your throat instead.
Adding a vowel: “buh-tən”
There's no vowel between the t and the n. Go straight into the n.
Using it between vowels
“Wa-ʔer” for water is British (London), not American. Between vowels, use the flap.
Try it
“The kitten in the mountain cabin was certainly not forgotten.”
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Questions
Is the glottal stop a British thing?
Both accents use it, in different places. London English uses it between vowels (“wa-ʔer”); American English uses it before n (button) and before consonants (football), and flaps the t between vowels.
Is it correct, or just casual?
It's the standard American pronunciation of button and mountain in all styles. A fully released t there sounds over-careful.