[t]
Like "t" in the following English words:
- Time
- Top
- Atom
- Meat
Examples:
Tempo
/'tẽ.pu/
Time
Ter
/teʁ/
To have
Três
/tɾes/
Three
Até
/a'te/
Until
The IPA sound [t] is a voiceless alveolar plosive. It is produced by placing the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge (the area behind the upper front teeth) and then releasing it quickly. Unlike some other sounds, like [d] or [n], the [t] sound does not involve any vibration of the vocal cords.
When pronouncing it in Brazilian Portuguese, you want to make sure your tongue touches the alveolar ridge briefly and then quickly releases the airflow. It's a short and crisp sound.