T-shirt is the correct spelling. A T-shirt is a thin, short-sleeved shirt with no collar and no buttons. T-shirts are named after the letter T which they resemble in shape.
A shirt refers to a general garment worn on the upper body. There are various types of shirts such as polo shirts, dress shirts, blouses etc. The pronunciation of T-shirt, irrespective of the spelling, rhymes with "pea dirt". While T-shirt is the most common and safest spelling choice, spellings like t-shirt, tee-shirt and tee shirt are also acceptable.
Spelling Variations
Most dictionaries recommend T-shirt, and it is the form most common. Yet t-shirt is gaining ground, and both tee-shirt and tee shirt have some followers. Not one of them is wrong, so while T-shirt might be the safer choice.
Pronunciation and Usage
According to the alphabet, it is /ˈtiˌsɝt/. It sounds like tee-shurt. Let’s see examples:
- It’s warm; I might wear a T-shirt.
- I can’t believe he wore a T-shirt to a black-tie event!
- She loved the T-shirt and bought it in several colors.
- Jeans and a white T-shirt is a classic look.