Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

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Mars80
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Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby Mars80 » 2017-07-19, 22:17

I pronounce "than" like "then" in ordinary speech. When I say "Less Than Jake" it sounds like "Less Then Jake".

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Re: Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby mōdgethanc » 2017-07-20, 10:24

I pronounce "than" like "then"
It's treason, than.
[ˈmoːdjeðɑŋk]

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Re: Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby linguoboy » 2017-07-20, 16:01

Not only are they homophones for me, but I'm pin-pen merged, so they come out as /ðɪn/.

Historically, they're the same word. I think it's silly to have a distinct spelling for the comparative use because there's little or no chance of ambiguity.
"Richmond is a real scholar; Owen just learns languages because he can't bear not to know what other people are saying."--Margaret Lattimore on her two sons

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Re: Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby vijayjohn » 2017-10-04, 5:39

It seems kind of hard not to pronounce them the same in casual speech at least.

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Re: Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby Babbsagg » 2017-10-05, 1:32

I do pronounce them differently, then with /ɛ/ and than with an almost /a/-like /æ/. I don't know if that's some sort of (slightly Northern) British dialect I've picked up or if it's just some bullshit I've made up.

I am curious now if Brits pronounce them differently, especially Northerners.
Thank you for correcting mistakes!

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Re: Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby vijayjohn » 2017-10-05, 2:17

Apparently, even Americans sometimes say /ðæn/ for stressed than.

EDIT: Brits don't necessarily pronounce them differently, either - not even northern Brits, it seems.

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Re: Do you pronounce "than" the same as "then"?

Postby RaviSharma12 » 2019-11-06, 9:52

Yes the pronunciation is almost same but the uses are different. Whereas, than is used when you're talking about comparisons and then is used when you're talking about something relating to time.


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