T (tē), the twentieth letter, is a nonvocal consonant. From its mode and place of articulation, the tongue touching the gum behind the teeth, it is classed as a voiceless dental or as a palatal, as in tie, it, note. T is silent in some words, as chasten. Unaccented ti before a vowel is sh, as in nation. T before diphthongal u (that of use) is tsh, as nature. T with h forms th; soft as in baths, though; hard as in bath, thin. Th is t in Esther, phthisic, Thames, Thomas, thyme; and is silent in asthma, isthmus,
