How to pronounce "that boy" in English — Connected Speech Guide (IPA /ˈðæbˈbɔɪ/)

How native English speakers pronounce "that boy" (IPA /ˈðæbˈbɔɪ/) — connected speech rule, example sentences, and audio for GA and RP. Free. t→/b/ before b

that boy pronunciation (IPA /ˈðæbˈbɔɪ/) — Assimilation

What happens in this phrase

t→/b/ before b

Example sentences

that boy is my cousin.
I know that boy.
Tell that boy to wait.
that boy runs fast.

Common mistakes by native language

Japanese speakers

Mistake: Pronouncing it as "ZATTO BOI" with a hard t release and separated words.

Why: Katakana English preserves each letter with a supporting vowel.

Fix: The t of "that" is elided before the b of "boy": [ˈðætˈbɔɪ] → [ˈðæˈbɔɪ] with held single stop. In fast speech may fully elide to [ˈðæˈbɔɪ].

Korean speakers

Mistake: Producing clear aspirated [tʰ] and fresh onset [b].

Why: Korean prosody keeps consonant boundaries clean.

Fix: The t of "that" elides before /b/: [ˈðæˈbɔɪ]. Same rule as "that place" [ˈðæˈpleɪs], "that day" [ˈðæˈdeɪ].

Spanish speakers

Mistake: Producing Spanish-style [d] or [ð] instead of full English [ð], and preserving both stops.

Why: Spanish has [ð] as an intervocalic allophone; English uses it as a full phoneme.

Fix: English [ð] in "that" is a full interdental fricative — tongue tip between the teeth. Then elide the t before /b/: [ˈðæˈbɔɪ].

Similar phrase patterns

that case — t-elision before /k/: [ˈðæˈkeɪs]. Same t-elision from "that" before a stop.
that man — t-elision before /m/: [ˈðæˈmæn]. Same rule with bilabial nasal instead of stop.
that time — t-elision before /t/: [ˈðæˈtaɪm]. Doubled t simplifies to single held stop.

Practice sentences

That boy over there is my son. (identification)
Do you know that boy? (inquiry)
That boy is always causing trouble. (reputation comment)
I'd like you to meet that boy sometime. (introduction plan)
That boy has a bright future. (praise / prediction)

Notes

"That boy" illustrates t-elision after the deictic pronoun "that". The t is elided (or held as a single stop shared with the following b) before any consonant, giving [ˈðæˈbɔɪ] or in fast speech [ˈðæˈbɔɪ] with barely audible stop. The rule generalizes across all "that + Consonant" collocations: "that case" [ˈðæˈkeɪs], "that day" [ˈðæˈdeɪ], "that man" [ˈðæˈmæn], "that time" [ˈðæˈtaɪm]. Only before a vowel does the t survive fully: "that apple" [ˈðæt ˈæpəl]. The [ð] onset of "that" is the voiced interdental fricative — the same sound as "this", "the", "then". Many learners substitute [z] or [d] here; getting the interdental position right (tongue tip lightly between teeth, voiced) is a common but high-impact target.