Proper Pronunciation Guide

first

[fɝst]

Tips:

  • Do not pronounce the letter “i.” (Its only function is to vowelize the letter “r” ).
  • Pronounce the letter “r” as the stressed R-Vowel
    /ɝ/ —and not as
    /ʌ/.
  • Be srue to explode the final
    /t/ lightly.
  • When the final “t” is linked into a vowel at the beginning of the next word, it may be pronounced as a lightly tapped
    /d/, as in the fourth practice sentence below.

Practice Sentences:

 He was the first one to sign up.
They went first class.
We need to get some instruction first.
This was to be the first of many.

Notes:

This word used to be spelled “frist” and pronounced accordingly, [frɪst], like the name of Dr. Bill Frist, the former Republican leader of the United States Senate.

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