Difference between the (da) or the (di).
Are you often confused when and where to use the (da) and the (di).
After reading this you will be able to use them correctly.
hence, is it the /ðə/ or the /ði/?
Let’s take a look
“The” can be pronounced in two different ways. One pronunciation sounds like /ðə/ and the other /ði/.
Typically, a short sound is used to enunciate the (like “thuh”). But we pronounce the as a lengthy “thee” when it comes before a vowel sound.
The first sound of the word that comes after it determines how the word “the” is pronounced.
We typically use /ðə/ when the word that comes after “the” starts with a consonant sound.
For instance
The book
The bus
The Fox
The college.
The physician
The doctor
Because the word that comes after “the” in each example starts with a consonant sound, /ðə/ is typically used
The /ði/. sound is used when the word that comes after “the” starts with a vowel sound.
For example.
The end
The orange
The elephant
The ice cream
The engineer
Because the word following “the” starts with a vowel sound in each example, /ði/. is frequently used.
It is critical to recognize that what we say, that matters not what we write. The important aspect of a word is its sound, not its letter. So, rather of always using a long “thee” before vowels, we sometimes do.
For example.
The house (h consonant sound)
The hour (o vowel sound)
The university ( y consonant sound)
The umbrella (u vowel sound)
