The word " the" gets pronounced with a hard or soft "e" , depending if a word starting with a vowel follows, correct?

Question

Instead of saying " I saw THUH elephant at the zoo."

Should it  be pronounced  - " I saw THEE elephant at the zoo." ?

..." THEE Umbrella is wet ."

Instead of " THUH umbrella is wet." ?

" I ate THEE apple . "

Instead  of "I ate THUH apple." ?

Answer 1

I usually say THUH.

And is some cases to say THEE sounds strange. "I ate THEE apple", sound funny. Though, "I saw THEE elephants, at THAH zoo." sound the way I would say it.

I grew up in a poor working class neighborhood. I didn't hear THEE very often.

@Gypsyfish: right THEE is used for emphasis 

Source(s): Native American English speaker. But regional and class differences.

Answer 2

Technically you are correct, but like any word, regional dialect is going to play into how anything is pronounced. 

Answer 3

Correct. Right.

Answer 4

Yes, for most speakers. But it's also pronounced "THEE" when it's emphasized. "There are a lot of imitations, but this is THEE best guitar you can buy!" 

Answer 5

You'll hear it both ways. It's probably regional.

Answer 6

Correct. Right.

Answer 7

this might depend on where you live, I, and everyone I know, says thuh for all the examples you gave, I don't think I ever pronounce it thee 

Answer 8

I only use soft 'e'