How to pronounce "that case" in English — Connected Speech Guide (IPA /ˈðækˈkeɪs/)

How native English speakers pronounce "that case" (IPA /ˈðækˈkeɪs/) — connected speech rule, example sentences, and audio for GA and RP. Free. t→/k/ before k (place assimilation)

that case pronunciation (IPA /ˈðækˈkeɪs/) — Assimilation

What happens in this phrase

t→/k/ before k (place assimilation)

Example sentences

In that case, call me.
that case is closed.
Take that case to court.
We dropped that case.

Common mistakes by native language

Japanese speakers

Mistake: Releasing the t at the end of "that" with a light vowel-like puff, producing something close to "that-o case" with an extra beat.

Why: Katakana loanwords such as ザット always attach a vowel after final consonants, so learners often instinctively add a small release rather than letting the [t] merge directly into the following [k].

Fix: Before a [k] sound, the [t] in "that" shifts its place of articulation to match, effectively becoming a [k] itself: [ˈðækˈkeɪs]. Practice saying "thack case", holding the closure a beat longer to blend the two k-like sounds.

Korean speakers

Mistake: Keeping a full, released [t] before "case" and treating the phrase as two clearly separated words, often with a short pause in between.

Why: Because "that" is a very common, spelling-anchored word for Korean learners, there's a strong instinct to always pronounce its final letter as written, resisting the sound-driven shift that place assimilation requires.

Fix: Focus on what your tongue is doing, not what's written: right before "case", let the back of your tongue rise to the same spot needed for [k], so the [t] essentially disappears into a longer [k]: [ˈðækˈkeɪs].

Chinese speakers

Mistake: Producing a strongly aspirated, glottalized stop for the final t of "that", creating an abrupt break before "case" rather than a smooth merge.

Why: Mandarin has very restricted syllable-final consonants and no equivalent place-assimilation process, so learners often default to simply cutting the sound short instead of reshaping it to match the next consonant.

Fix: Instead of stopping the airflow abruptly, let your tongue move directly to the [k] position early, so "that" and "case" share one long closure: [ˈðækˈkeɪs]. There should be a single held stop, not two separate articulations.

Similar phrase patterns

good boy — place assimilation before b (parallel structure): Structurally identical process: a final alveolar consonant shifts to match a following stop's place of articulation. Here it's [d]→[b] instead of [t]→[k]: [ˈɡʊbˈbɔɪ].
ten boys — place assimilation with a nasal consonant: Extends the same principle to nasals: [n]→[m] before [b], showing that place assimilation applies broadly across both stops and nasals in English: [ˈtɛmˈbɔɪz].
old man — contrast: d before m stays largely distinct: Not every consonant pair assimilates as strongly — comparing "that case" (full merge) with less-assimilated pairs helps learners hear which environments trigger the strongest shifts.

Practice sentences

In that case, call me right away. (conditional response)
That case is closed for good. (legal or formal context)
Take that case to court. (instruction)
We dropped that case last year. (past reference)
In that case, let's try something else. (problem-solving suggestion)

Notes

"That case" is a versatile phrase that appears both in the common discourse marker "in that case" and in literal references to legal or medical cases, making it useful across formal and everyday registers alike. Its pronunciation showcases place assimilation at the alveolar-velar boundary: the final [t] of "that", normally made with the tongue tip against the ridge behind the teeth, shifts backward in the mouth to merge with the following [k], which is made with the back of the tongue against the soft palate. The result is a single, slightly held [k]-like closure rather than two separate consonant articulations, giving [ˈðækˈkeɪs]. For A2 learners already comfortable with basic "that + noun" phrases, this assimilation pattern is an important upgrade — it appears in extremely common expressions like "in that case", "that kind", and "that guy", and mastering it here builds the ear and mouth coordination needed to sound fluent rather than overly deliberate.