How to pronounce lists in American English
Americans pronounce lists as LIHSTS (/lɪsts/). The T drops out of the cluster entirely in casual American speech.
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Why "lists" sounds like LIHSTS.
In "lists", 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, and it's one of the defining features of casual American English. It comes out as LIHSTS.
Hear "lists" 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 "lists", 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.
Questions people ask about this.
Is the American pronunciation of "lists" different from British English?
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