Proper Pronunciation Guide

Hartford

[hɑ͜ɚt̚ fɚd]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the first syllable like the word “heart” and stress it. Be sure to pronounce the letters “ar” as the R-Vowel diphthong
    /ɑ͜ɚ/, which ends in
    /ɚ/ .
  • Stop-but-do-not-explode the letter “t”—/t̚ /—and release the air on the following consonant
    /f/.
  • Pronounce the vowel in the second syllable as the unstressed R-Vowel
    /ɚ/ .
  • Be sure to voice the final
    /d/ sufficiently.

Practice Sentences:

 They moved from Hartford to New York City.
The weather was very hot in Hartford yesterday.

Definition:

  • (Proper Noun) A city on the Connecticut River which is the capital of Connecticut.

Notes:

  • If the vowel in the first syllable /ɑ͜ɚ/ is not completed with /ɚ/, the syllable will sound like the word “hot” instead of “heart.”
  • The vowel /ɚ/ in the second syllable is a vowel reduction from /ɔ͜ɚ/ (“ford”) because the syllable is unstressed. Be sure not to substitute the weak schwa vowel /ə/ for the weak R-Vowel /ɚ/.

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