How to Pronounce WANTED – American English

I've wanted to make this video for a long time.

In this American English pronunciation video, we'll go over how to pronounce

'wanted', 'want it', and more.

I get quite a few questions about the word 'wanted' and I can understand why.

What do you notice about how I pronounce that word?

Wanted.

He wanted to come but he couldn't.

I wanted that.

I'm not pronouncing it 'wanted', am I?

Most of the time, Americans drop the T in this word.

This is common when the T follows the N. You may have noticed this word being pronounced

'ce-ner' with no T or 'i-nerview', 'in-ernet', no T. Just like in 'wanna'.

The vowel in the stressed syllable here can go one of two ways.

It can be the AH as in 'father' vowel or the UH as in 'butter' vowel.

I pronounce it with the UH as in 'butter' vowel so the first syllable sounds just like the word 'won'.

Wanted.

I wanted--

I wanted to leave earlier.

Let's take a look at this word up close and in slow motion.

The lips come in to a tight circle for the W sound.

Then they relax into the vowel.

Wuh-- Next, watch the tongue.

It flaps against the roof of the mouth for the N and comes right back down for the unstressed IH vowel.

And now the tongue goes back up for the ending D. Let's watch again.

Keep the tongue nice and wide and loose when it flaps up for the N. Wuhn-n-n-n.

Wanted.

Now, let's look at some phrases with 'want'.

When it's followed by a vowel, drop the T. Just like in 'wanted'.

I want it.

Notice this sounds just like 'I won it'.

Won it.

No T in 'want'.

I want another one.

Again, followed by a vowel, you can drop the T in 'want'.

I want another.

But when want is followed by a consonant, we make a stop T.

I want these.

I want this.

I want that.

Do you hear the little breaking sound?

I want that.

Your tongue will be in position for the NT just to a quick stop of air.

I want-- that. I want that.

I want these.

Pronouncing 'wanted' and 'wan't like this, like Americans, will make it easier to sound just

a little more natural when speaking English.

Practice with me.

Wanted.

I wanted it.

Want another.

I want another one.

Want more.

I want more please.

Want one.

Remember the rules are for sounds, not letters.

'One' starts with the vowel letter O but the first sound is the W consonant.

So make the T in 'want' a stop T. Want one.

I want one more.

Want everyone. I want everyone to be happy.

Great job. Pronounce these words this way to sound natural.

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That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.