How to pronounce cents in American English
Americans pronounce cents as SEHNTS (/sɛnts/). The T drops out of the cluster entirely in casual American speech.
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Why "cents" sounds like SEHNTS.
In "cents", the "t" is squeezed between other consonants and drops out — the surrounding consonants flow together without it — most natural in flowing, casual speech; in careful or formal speech, the T may be lightly present. This is called the Silent T in Clusters, the kind of sound shift that makes everyday speech feel effortless. It comes out as SEHNTS.
Hear "cents" in the wild.
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Common pronunciation mistakes in American English.
The textbook way isn't wrong — it's just not how anyone actually says it.
Pronouncing the T in a consonant cluster.
In "cents", the "t" is squeezed between other consonants and drops out — the surrounding consonants flow together without it — most natural in flowing, casual speech; in careful or formal speech, the T may be lightly present. /t/ is dropped entirely — the surrounding consonants flow together without the T.
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