Happy-Tensing

Happy-tensing refers to the process in which the word-final high front vowel is realized as the tense vowel [i} and not the lax [I]. Words with the word-final high front vowel include city, coffee, money, movie and suddenly.

The lax pronunciation occurs in Conservative Received Pronunciation, the English of the southern United States, in much of northern England and in Jamaica. In Scottish English, the vowel of day may be used. Many words spelled with -ee and -ey such as coffee and money were once pronounced with the vowel of day.

Happy-tensing occurs in the English of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. In the north of England, happy-tensing occurs in Liverpool and Newcastle. Speakers with happy-tensing always distinguish pairs such as taxes and taxis.

Many English speakers produce a tense vowel in words such as coffee, happy and movie. The tense vowel has become more common in Received Pronunciation than in the past. It is less marked than the lax counterpart.