pronunciation of 'often'?

In Australia, both pronunciations (off-en/off-ten) seem to be used interchangeably. However, I've noticed that older speakers tend to use 'off-ten' more, as well as speakers who are, essentially, trying to sound more formal with their speech.

The word was originally 'oftin', with 'ofte' (pronounced 'oft') being used before vowels. The pronunciation 'off-ten' has been seen as the more formal, and therefore the more prestigious one, for many years.

However, as what usually happens in casual speech, the 't' is lost, in order to create an easier pronunciation in 'off-en'. This latter pronunciation has now moved into the formal register, where it is also heard with 'off-ten'.

It seems that a pronunciation of 'off-en' is far less salient than 'of-ten', meaning that if someone used 'off-ten', it would 'stick out' more than if they had used 'off-en'.

(Note that in all of these pronunciations, the vowel of the second syllable is unstressed (schwa)).

It's really just a pronunciation difference with no impact on the meaning -- in fact, I wouldn't even call it a dialect difference, as there's no strong regional pattern of consistent usage of either one (at least in the US). It's more of a simple personal preference based on family history, past exposure to other people pronouncing the word, etc. And even individuals pronounce it both ways at different times, sometimes on the same day.

A similar thing is true with "either" (pronounced E-ther or I-ther). I hear people switch back and forth between those two pronunciations in the same conversation, and they don't even notice it.

Basically wherever you go, you'll hear both.

Correct Pronunciation Of Often

Pronunciation Often

I've heard people in NY (where I'm from) pronounce it like orphan (aw-fan)

I pronounce it like aw-fin or augh-tin

In India it is always pronounced as 'awfin'.

In US mostly i have heard people pronouncing it as 'off-tin'

from the midwest, was taught that the 't" was silent. however, there were several in my class that refused to say it that way, and pronounced the t.

Lol not sure really never noticed!

I'm from just south east of London and say it without the 't'.

Maybe if your posher you use the 't' :)

Or if your lazy you dont!

lol

it just depends on where you live. I pronounce it off-tin

the proper way to say it is as a whole word there is no silent letter in the word so it is said as oft-en.