Lesson 4: TR & DR Clusters – The “Ch” and “J” You Didn’t Expect

English has some surprising sound changes that no one tells you about in school. One of the biggest? The way native speakers pronounce “TR” and “DR.”

In real speech:

• TR becomes something like チュ (chu)
• DR becomes something like ジュ (ju)

This isn't slang or lazy speech—it’s how fluent speakers naturally combine sounds.

Why Does This Happen?

It's all about speed and comfort.

When your tongue moves from the “T” or “D” to the “R,” the fastest route is to blend them together:

• T + R = チュ
• D + R = ジュ

It’s the same reason Japanese already has:

• チュウインガム = chewing gum
• ジュリア = Julia

In fact, Japanese learners already have the muscle memory—they just don’t know to use it in English!

Try These:

Say these slowly, then quickly:

TR:

• Truck → チュアック (Chuak)
• Tree → チュイー (Chui)
• Try → チュワイ (Chwai)
• Trick → チュイク (Chwik)
• Travel → チュアフェゥ (Chuafeu)

DR:

• Drive → ジュワイフ (Juaif)
• Drunk → ジュアン (Juank)
• Drink → ジュインク (Juink)
• Drop → ジュロップ
• Dragon → ジュアゴン

You don’t need to say them like a robot. You need to flow with them like a song.

—Symeon