1. Pronunciation of the Y Y is pronounced as ai or i:. - In one-syllable words, Y is pronounced as ai.

For example: my, by, fly, shy, sky, dry, cry, fry, and try. - In two-syllable words, Y is pronounced as i:. As example: happy, funny, baby, bony, puppy, party, tiny, city, candy, berry, penny, and turkey. 2. Pronunciation of the C C is pronounced as s or k. For example: city, cider, circle, and country. - When an E or Y follow the C, it is pronounced as s. Good examples are: cellar, center, cent, ice, cycle, cell, cypress, and cyclone. - When an O, U, or A follows the C, it is pronounced as k. Some examples are: cold, country, computer, couple, cup, curb, cut, cap, can, and cat. Read these sentences aloud and compare both sounds: _ The city is cloudy. _ The center is covered. _ We cycle in the city but drive the car in the country. 3. Pronunciation of the G - When an E, I, or Y follows the G, it is pronounced as . Examples are: gym, giant, gem, gorgeous, and George. - When a U or A follows the G, it is pronounced as or . For example: gun, gum, gas, garden, and gap. 4. Pronunciation of vowel letters - The long A and the short A, for example: cape and gap. -at: bat, cat, hat, fat, sat, rat -ad: bad, had, mad, sad -ag: tag, wag, rag, bag -an: fan, pan, can, ran -am: jam, ham, ram, yam -ap: map, tap, nap When the word ends in E, the A is pronounced as a long vowel. Examples of this are: rake, gate, face, base, cage, wave, and take. When the word ends in R, the A sound is as in: tar, jar, car, and far. - The long I and the short I. -id: bid, kid, lid, did -ig: big, rig, wig, pig, dig -in: pin, fin, tin, win, bin

-ip: tip, lip, hip, rip, dip -it: kit, hit, fit, sit, pit When the word ends in E, the I is pronounced as a long vowel. For example: kite, bike, dime, ride, and vine. - The long O and the short O. -og: fog, hog, dog, jog, log -op: mop, pop, hop, top -ot: hot, pot, got, not -ob: mob, cob, job, sob When the word ends in E, the O is pronounced as a long vowel. As examples: rose, pole, and hope. - The long U and the short U. -ut: pup, cup, put, up, rut, hut, cut, nut -ub: cub, tub -us: bus, pus -un: fun, sun, run, bun, gun -ug: mug, bug, tug, hug When the word ends in E, the O is pronounced as a long vowel. Examples: tune, cube, and cute. If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. Theyll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (dont forget to mention our ESL blog as the original source). Some Rules of English Pronunciation A C is normally pronounced as a K. It sounds like an S if it is followed by E I or Y. Example: circus. The first C is followed by an I so it sounds like an S. The second C is followed by a U so it sounds like a K. The same principle applies to cycle. The word accent follows the same rule. The first C is followed by another C so it sounds like a K. The second C is followed by an E so it sounds like an S. A G sounds like a J if it is followed by E I or Y. Examples are giraffe, giant, gypsy, general, raging. Otherwise it sounds like G in goose. There are some exceptions to this rule, but the exceptions are usually easy words. The most common exceptions come from Germanic roots which dont have this rule, like give, get, girl, forgive, forget. If G is followed by any letter other than E I or Y, then it is either sounded like the G in goose or it is silent. I am not aware of any exceptions. * Margarine seems to be an exception, but the correct pronunciation is marGarine, with the G sounding like the G in goose. The word was is pronounced as it is spelt. The letter W or a W sound makes a short A which follows it sound like a short O, In other words, a W changes the sound of a short A to a short O.

Examples: want, wash, wander, watch, swan, swap, wallet, waddle, wadding, waffle, wallaby. Quad, quality, qualify, what, quadratic. The letter W usually makes a short O sound like a short U. Examples: won, wonder, worry. There are rules for pronunciation of English words they are seldom taught. Here are some myths about the English language and phonics.

Regarding Consonants B Usually pronounced like the b in big. However, in words ending with -mb, such ascomb, plumb, numb, bomb, etc, the b is silent. C Usually pronounced like k, as in cat. However, c takes on the sound of s when it precedes e, i or y, as in ceiling, cistern, cynic, etc. -dge Usually pronounced like j, as in bridge. G Usually pronounced as in go. However, before e, i or y, g is often pronounced like j, as in germ, ginger, gyrate, etc. -gh In some words, -gh is pronounced like f, as in laugh. However, in some words it is silent, as in high. H For example, head. However, in a few words, the h is silent, as in hour, honour,etc. K Generally pronounced like the c in cat. However, when followed by n, it is usually silent, as in knife, knave, knight, etc. L Generally pronounced as in leaf. However, in a few words, the l is silent, especially when followed by k and f, as in talk, walk, half, calf, etc. S Generally pronounced as in sun. However, in some words s is pronounced like z, as in nose, president, etc. In a few words, such as television and azure, s takes on a sound generally represented phonetically as zh. Th Generally aspirated, ie, let out with a puff of air, as in think, third, etc. However, in some words, such as this, th is not aspirated. X Usually pronounced like in box (the sound is ks). However, when it is the first letter of a word, x is pronounced like z. Y Generally pronounced as in yesterday. In some words it takes on the sound ee, as in city. In yet other words, it takes on the sound ai, as in fly.

Regarding Vowels A Before two consonants, a is pronounced as in sand. This also applies when appears before a single consonant at the end of a word, as in fan. Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, a is usually pronounced as in ate(the sound is ey). Before l and after q and w, a is usually pronounced as in call (the sound is aw). Other examples are squash and wall. E Before two consonants and before a single consonant at the end of a word, e is usually pronounced as in desk or ten. This also applies when e appears before a single consonant followed by a vowel (ever), although sometimes e is pronounced ee in such cases, as in even. At the end of a word, e is usually silent, as in ate, fate, etc; however, at the end of very short words, e usually takes on the sound ee, as in be. I Before two consonants and before a single consonant at the end of a word, i is usually pronounced as in fit or fill. However, in some cases, before two consonants, i takes on the ai sound (rhymes with eye). For example, wild. Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, i generally takes on the ai sound, as in eye and tire. O Before two consonants in some words and before a single consonant at the end of a word, o takes on the sound aw, as in rock and not. In other words, it is pronounced oh when it appears before two consonants, as inbolt. The same applies when it precedes a single consonant followed by a vowel. U Before two consonants and before a consonant at the end of a word, u usually takes on either the short oo sound, as in pull and put, or the blunt uh, as in duck and jut. Before a single consonant followed by a vowel, u takes on the long oo sound, as inJune.

Rules of Word Stress in English

There are two very simple rules about word stress: 1. One word has only one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you hear two stresses, you hear two words. Two stresses cannot be one word. It is true that there can be a "secondary" stress in some words. But a secondary stress is much smaller than the main [primary] stress, and is only used in long words.) 2. We can only stress vowels, not consonants.

Here are some more, rather complicated, rules that can help you understand where to put the stress. But do not rely on them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try to "feel" the music of the language and to add the stress naturally. 1 Stress on first syllable

Rule Most 2-syllable nouns Most 2-syllable adjectives 2 Stress on last syllable Rule Most 2-syllable verbs

example PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy

example to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to beGIN

There are many two-syllable words in English whose meaning and class change with a change in stress. The word present, for example is a two-syllable word. If we stress the first syllable, it is a noun (gift) or an adjective (opposite of absent). But if we stress the second syllable, it becomes a verb (to offer). More examples: the words export, import, contractand object can all be nouns or verbs depending on whether the stress is on the first or second syllable. 3 Stress on penultimate syllable (penultimate = second from end) Rule Words ending in -ic Words ending in -sion and -tion example GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geoLOGic teleVIsion, reveLAtion

For a few words, native English speakers don't always "agree" on where to put the stress. For example, some people say teleVIsion and others say TELevision. Another example is:CONtroversy and conTROversy. 4 Stress on ante-penultimate syllable (ante-penultimate = third from end) Rule Words ending in -cy, -ty, phy and -gy Words ending in -al example deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy CRItical, geoLOGical

5 Compound words (words with two parts) Rule For compound nouns, the stress is on the first part For compound adjectives, the stress is on the second part For compound verbs, the stress is on example BLACKbird, GREENhouse bad-TEMpered, oldFASHioned to underSTAND, to

the second part

overFLOW

If a word ends in the letter 's' (e.g. plural noun or verb in the third person), there are three ways to pronounce this 's' - /S/, /Z/ and /IZ/. Similarly, any word which ends in 'ed' (e.g. adjective or the past of a regular verb) may be pronounced either /T/, /D/ or /ID/.

1. Final 's'

Type one sound /S/

In type one words, the final 's' should be pronounced with air pushed out between the top of your tongue and your top teeth, without using the vocal chords (the sound made by a snake or gas escaping from a pipe). Type one sounds are used if the word ends in the following sounds:
Standard Viv's phonetic phonetic symbols symbols /p/ /P/ /t/ /T/ /k/ /K/ /f/ /F/ // // Example word stops, ships hits, pets attacks, bricks laughs, coughs maths, moths

These sounds are all unvoiced, which means that your vocal chords must be silent when you make the sound. Type two sound /Z/ This sound is formed in the same way as type 1, but you must make a sound with your vocal chords (the sound made by a bee, or high-voltage electricity) Type two sounds come after the following sounds:
Standard Viv's phonetic phonetic symbols symbols /b/ /B/ /d/ /D/ /g/ /G/ /v/ /V/ /D/ /DZ/ Example word grabs, robs lids, rods pigs, dogs loves, leaves breathes, lathes

/l/ /m/ /n/ /N/ any vowel sound

/L/ /M/ /N/ // any vowel sound

hills, fails comes, trams earns, burns songs, paintings plays, employees, flees, goes, news

These sounds are all voiced, which means that your vocal chords must make a sound when you pronounce them.

Type three sound /IZ/

This sound is the same as the verb 'to be' in its third person form (is). Type three sounds are the only ones which add an additional syllable to the word, for example 'miss' /MIS/ is one syllable, but 'misses' /MIS IZ/ is two syllables. The final /IZ/ syllable isn't usually stressed.

Standard Viv's phonetic phonetic symbols symbols /s/ /S/ /z/ /Z/ // /SH/ /t/ /TCH/ /DJ/ /d/

Example word buses, places chooses, sizes washes, wishes watches, matches Judges, pages

If a word ends in a consonant sound + 'y', the pronunciation of final 'y' is /EE/ and in the plural it has a type 3 sound, but there is no extra syllable e.g. 'copy' /KO PEE/ (2 syllables), 'copies' /KO PIZ/ (also 2 syllables).

2. Final 'ed'

Type one sound /T/

You make this sound by 'unsticking' your tongue from the roof of your mouth and pushing air out of your mouth at the same time. The vocal chords aren't used (sound at the end of 'at') We use this sound when a word ends in an unvoiced phoneme (your vocal chords aren't used):
Standard Viv's phonetic phonetic symbols symbols /s/ /S/ Example word passed, placed

// /t/ /p/ /k/ /f/ //

/SH/ /TCH/ /P/ /K/ /F/ //

washed, wished watched, matched stopped, trapped locked, packed laughed, coughed frothed

Type two sound /D/

This sound is formed in the same way as type 1, but you must use your vocal chords at the same time (sound at the beginning of 'do'). Words ending in voiced phonemes (with sound produced by your vocal chords) are pronounced with a type 2 'ed':
Standard Viv's phonetic phonetic symbols symbols /z/ /Z/ /b/ /B/ /g/ /G/ /v/ /V/ /D/ /DZ/ /l/ /L/ /m/ /M/ /n/ /N/ /N/ // /DJ/ /d/ any vowel sound

Example word buzzed, amazed grabbed, robbed bugged, tagged loved, craved breathed, bathed piled, failed drummed, rammed rained, pinned pinged, wronged judged, raged played, employed, tried, flowed, skied

any vowel sound

Type three /ID/

Type 3 'ed' adds an additional syllable in the same way as type 3 final 's'. For example, the past of 'mend' is pronounced /MEN DID/ with stress on the first syllable. Words ending in /t/ and /d/ sounds are type 3, but some adjectives also have this sound.
Standard Viv's phonetic phonetic symbols symbols /t/ /T/ /d/ /D/ Example word waited, retreated handed, ended

Adjectives with type 3 'ed'

aged, learned, naked, ragged, rugged, wicked, wretched

LETRA

PRONUN CIACION

OBSERVACIONES a) Cuando es tnica a final de slaba o seguida de consonante y e muda. b) Antes de mb, nci, ng y ste

EJEMPLOS fate (fit), destino agent (idchent), agente chamber (chimbar), cmara ancient (inchent), antiguo change (chinch), cambio waste (uist), derrochar already (olrdi), ya water (uter), agua; law (l:), ley far (f:r), lejos

ei

o a

a) Antes de l o ll b) Antes o despus de w Antes de r

i e

Cuando es tnica a final de slaba o seguida de consonante y emuda.

scene (s:n), escena me (m), a m the (d), el, la, los, las

En las dems palabras unas veces meridian (merdian), meridiano suena como e abierta y otras meter (mte:r), metro como e cerrada francesa. a) Cuando es tnica a final de slaba o seguida de consonante y e muda. b) Antes de gh, ght, gn, ld y nd pine (pin), pino idol (idol), dolo idle (idl) haragn high (ji), alto; night (nit), noche sign (sin), firmar; mild (mild), tibio find (find), encontrar I (i), yo biography (baigrafi), biografa globalize (globalis), globalizar licence (lisens), permiso pin (pn), alfiler fin (fn), aleta sir (sr), seor; first (frst), primero

ai

c) En algunos monoslabos y en las voces en que precede a una o ms consonantes seguidas de e muda.

i ae
francesa

d) Cuando no va seguida de emuda. e) Cuando va seguida de r

ou

a) Cuando es tnica a final de slaba o seguida de consonante y e muda. b) Antes de ld, lt y st

vote (vut), voto open (upen), abrir bold (buld), osado;

o ae
francesa

c) Cuando no va seguida de emuda. d) En las palabras de ms de una slaba o terminaciones tion. e) En algunos casos como: f) En los siguientes verbos:

bolt (bult),cerrojo; most (must), mayora boy (bi), muchacho toy (ti), juguete admiration (admirishon), admiracin who (j), quien; do (d), hacer; woman (man), mujer to prove (tu prv), probar; to move (tu mv), mover; to lose (tu ls), perder tune (tin), tono usual (ishual), usual

iu u i i a

a) Cuando es tnica a final de slaba o seguida de consonante y e muda. b) En las siguientes palabras:

rule (rl), regla; bull (bl), toro; crude (krd), crudo; put (put), poner; true (tr), verdadero pupil (pipil), alumno; tube (tib), tubo; duty (diti), deber busy (bsi), ocupado; building (blding), edificio under (nder), debajo de; unload (anlud), descargar

c) Al final de slaba fuerte y cuando precede a consonante seguida de e muda. d) En algunas palabras como:

e) En algunas palabras como:

ae ea ai ao au ay ea e ee i: ei ei ei i:

aeroplane (eroplein), avin praise (pris), alabanza aorta (eirta), aorta daughter (dter), hija day (di), da Se representa con dos puntos (:) meat (m:t), carne una prolongacin del sonido leap (l:p), salto de la vocal. Seguida de una d bread (brd), pan

Se representa con dos puntos (:) meeting (m:ting), reunin una prolongacin del sonido deep (d:p), profundo de la vocal. steel (st:l), acero

eo

people (ppl), gente Europe (irop), Europa beauty (biti), belleza news (nis), noticias seine (sin), red de pesca vein (vin), vena obey (oubi), obedecer prey (pri), presa valiant (vliant), valiente hygiene (jiyi:n), higiene violin (violin), violn stadium (stdium), estadio board (b:rd), tabla shoe (sh), zapato toe (tu), dedo del pie noise (nis), ruido boy (bi), muchacho foot (ft), pie; good (gd), bueno door (dr), puerta; floor (flr), piso house (jus), casa town (tun), ciudad guard (g:rd), guardia banquet (bnkuit), banquete suit (sit), traje de vestir liquor (lkuor), licor Delante de e, i, y centre (snter), centro city (sti), ciudad cypress (sipres), ciprs

eu eau i ew ei ey ia ie iu oa oe oi oy oo ei ia i: iu o: u ou oi

io io

ou u ow ua ue ui a: ui

i uo uo c ch s

Por sus variantes, la pronunciacin de la CH inicial en ingls es todo un desafo. Sin embargo puedes guiarte por estas tres reglas bsicas: a) Las palabras de origen britnico se pronuncian con sonido /tsh/. b) Las palabras de origen griego se pronuncian con la consonante K.

c) Las palabras de origen francs se pronuncian con la CH francesa.

tsh k ch
francesa

change (tshinsh), cambio; check (tshk), cheque, verificar chemistry (kmistri), qumica; chronicle (krnikl), crnica champagne (shampin), champaa; Chopin (shopn), Chopin get (guet), obtener give (guiv), dar gentleman (dchntleman), caballero ghost (gst), fantasma nigh (ni), cercano night (nit), noche rough (rf), spero; tough (tf), duro; trough (trf) artesa; laugh(lf), rer; draught (dr:ft), trago; cough (cf), tos; enough (inf), suficiente jovial (dchvial), jovial join (dchin), juntar philosophy (filsofi), filosofa Unas veces suena como d Otras veces suena como dz o como z espaola. Cuando va seguida de i y especialmente en las terminaciones tion Tiene el sonido labiodental fuerte. Al principio de la palabra. Cuando va entre vocales. En los dems casos. Tiene el sonido fricativo de la y espaola. Cuando es acentuada en medio o a fin de diccin. the (d, d), el, la, los, las with (uz), con admiration (admirischon), admiracin; station (stischon), estacin leaves (lvs), hojas vine (vin), via xylophone (silofoun), xilfono exempt (egsmpt), exento box (bks), caja yes (yes), s type (tip), tipo why (jui), por qu

gue gui

Seguida de e, i En voces francesas y clsicas. A principio de palabra Es muda a fin de slaba seguida (o no) de t

dch gh g f j ph th dch f d dz t v x sch v s gs ks y ai

En los siguientes vocablos:

REDUCTIONS
Reductions formed with what + is + word

whassup

o Formation: whassup = what + is + up o Usage: Hey, whassup? o Meaning: Hey, what is up?
whatser

o Formation: whatser = what + is + her o Usage: Whatser name? o Meaning: What is her name?
whatsiz

o Formation: whatsiz = what + is + his o Usage: Whatsiz name? o Meaning: What is his name?

Reductions formed with word + me

Gimme

o Formation: gimme = give + me o Usage: Please gimme the book. o Meaning: Please give me the book.
lemme

o Formation: lemme = let + me o Usage: Please lemme go with you. o Meaning: Please let me go with you.

Reductions formed with word(s) + you

betcha

o Formation: betcha = bet + you o Usage: Betcha can't eat just one. o Meaning: Bet you can't eat just one.
doncha

o Formation: doncha = don't + you o Usage: Doncha think that exam was hard.

o Meaning: Don't you think that exam was hard.

getcha

o Formation: getcha = get + you o Usage: I'm planning to getcha some new clothes. o Meaning: I'm planning to get you some new clothes.
gotcha

o Formation: gotcha = got + you o Usage: I already gotcha some new clothes. o Meaning: I already got you some new clothes.
howarya

o Formation: howarya = how + are + you o Usage: Howarya doing today? o Meaning: How are you doing today?
howdya

o Formation: howdya = how + do + you o Usage: Howdya make delicious sushi? o Meaning: How do you make delicious sushi?
howjya

o Formation: howjya = how + did + you o Usage: Howjya get the money for school? o Meaning: How did you get the money for school?
howujya

o Formation: howujya = how + would + you o Usage: Howujya get the answer to this problem. o Meaning: How would you get the answer to this problem.
jya

o Formation: jya = did + you o Usage: Jya go to class today? o Meaning: Did you go to class today?
Waddaya

o Formation: waddaya = what + are + you o Usage: Waddaya doing tonight? o Meaning: What are you doing tonight?
waddaya

o Formation: waddaya = what + do + you o Usage: Waddaya think of this restaurant? o Meaning: What do you think of this restaurant?

wancha

o Formation: wancha = want + you o Usage: I wancha to do your homework. o Meaning: I want you to do your homework.
whajya

o Formation: whajya = what + did + you o Usage: Whajya do today? o Meaning: What did you do today?
whenjya

o Formation: whenjya = when + did + you o Usage: Whenjya decide to study English? o Meaning: When did you decide to study English?
wherjya

o Formation: wherjya = where + did + you o Usage: Wherjya go today? o Meaning: Where did you go today?
whojya

o Formation: whojya = who + did + you o Usage: Whojya go to the park with today? o Meaning: Who did you go to the park with today?
woujya

o Formation: woujya = would + you o Usage: Woujya like to go to the movies tonight? o Meaning: Would you like to go to the movies tonight?

Reductions formed with word + have

Coulda

o Formation: coulda = could + have o Usage: I coulda eaten one more donut. o Meaning: I could have eaten one more donut.
mighta

o Formation: mighta = might + have o Usage: I mighta gone to the party if she wasn't going. o Meaning: I might have gone to the party if she wasn't going.
musta

o Formation: musta = must + have o Usage: She musta been really tired after working so many hours. o Meaning: She must have been really tired after working so many hours.
shoulda

o Formation: shoulda = should + have o Usage: You really shoulda come with us. o Meaning: You really should have come with us.
woulda

o Formation: woulda = would + have o Usage: I woulda come if I wasn't working. o Meaning: I would have come if I wasn't working.

Reductions formed with word + of

frunna

o Formation: frunna = front + of o Usage: Your shoes are in frunna the door. o Meaning: Your shoes are in front of the door.
kinda

o Formation: kinda = kind + of o Usage: I kinda like eating at restaurants. o Meaning: I kind of like eating at restaurants.
kindsa

o Formation: kindsa = kinds + of o Usage: What kindsa food do you usually eat at restaurants? o Meaning: What kinds of food do you usually eat at restaurants?
Lotsa

o Formation: lotsa = lots + of o Usage: I plan on eating lotsa food at the buffet. o Meaning: I plan on eating lots of food at the buffet.
lotta

o Formation: lotta = lot + of o Usage: There was a lotta food at the buffet. o Meaning: There was a lot of food at the buffet.
outta

o Formation: outta = out + of o Usage: Hey, let's get outta here.

o Meaning: Hey, let's get out of here.

sorta

o Formation: sorta = sort + of o Usage: What sorta book are you looking for? o Meaning: What sort of book are you looking for?
typa

o Formation: typa = type + of o Usage: What typa food did they serve? o Meaning: What type of food did they serve?

Reductions formed with word + to

gonna

o Formation: gonna = going + to o Usage: I'm gonna have to work every day next week. o Meaning: I'm going to have to work every day next week.
gotta

o Formation: gotta = got + to o Usage: I gotta get up early to go work. o Meaning: I got to get up early to go work.
hafta

o Formation: hafta = have + to o Usage: I hafta work overtime tonight. o Meaning: I have to work overtime tonight.
hasta

o Formation: hasta = has + to o Usage: She hasta work this weekend. o Meaning: She has to work this weekend.
oughta

o Formation: oughta = ought + to o Usage: You oughta find a better job. o Meaning: You ought to find a better job.
wanna

o Formation: wanna = want + to o Usage: I really wanna find a better job. o Meaning: I really want to find a better job.

Reductions formed with do + not + know

donno

o Formation: donno = do + not + know o Usage: I really donno the answer to the question. o Meaning: I really don't know the answer to the question.
dunno

o Formation: dunno = do + not + know o Usage: I really dunno the answer to the question. o Meaning: I really don't know the answer to the question.

Reductions formed with did + you + word

jeet

o Formation: jeet = did + you + eat o Usage: Jeet lunch already? o Meaning: Did you eat lunch already?
jev

o Formation: jev = did + you + have o Usage: Jev a nice day? o Meaning: Did you have a nice day?
jever

o Formation: jever = did + you + ever o Usage: Jever want to be an English teacher? o Meaning: Did you ever want to be an English teacher?

Going to is pronounced GONNA when it is used to show the future. But it is never reduced when it means going from one place to another.

Were going to grab a bite to eat. = Were gonna grab a bite to eat. Im going to the office tonight. = Im going to the office tonight.

Want to and want a are both pronounced WANNA and wants to is pronounced WANSTA. Do you want to can also be reduced to WANNA.

I want to go for a spin. = I wanna go for a spin. Do you want a piece of cake? = Wanna piece of cake? He wants to avoid rush hour. = He wansta avoid rush hour. Sorry, I have to leave now. = Sorry, I hafta leave now. She has to go to work soon. = She hasta go to work soon.

Have to is pronounced HAFTA and has to is pronounced HASTA.

Have reduces to AV or A in positive and negative phrases.

must have = mustav or musta must not have = mustnav or mustna would have = wouldav or woulda would not have = wouldnav or wouldna could have = couldav or coulda could not have = couldnav or couldna should have = shouldav or shoulda should not have = shouldnav or shouldna

You is almost always pronounced YA, youre and your are pronounced YER, and yours is pronounced YERS.

Do you feel under the weather? = Do ya feel under the weather? Youre completely right. = Yer completely right. Your brother will be fine. = Yer brother will be fine. Is this book yours? = Is this book yers? She wants to invite us to the party. = She wants ta invite us ta the party. I need to go to bed now. = I need da go da bed now. Karen and Steve are coming to visit. = Karen n Steve are coming to visit. Tim is in Paris this week. = Tom is n Paris this week.

To is pronounced TA after voiceless sounds and DA after voiced sounds.

And and in both reduce to N.

D + Y = J T + Y = CH

did you = didju or didja let you = letchu or letcha would you = wouldju or wouldja what you = whatchu or whatcha could you = couldju or couldja dont you = donchu or doncha should you = shouldju or shouldja didnt you = didnchu or didncha Thats a great idea. = Thats a gread idea. What a great car! = What a great car. center = cener counted = couned

T is pronounced as D when it is between two vowels.

T is not pronounced when it is between N and E.

The past tense form -ED is pronounced T after voiceless sounds, D after voiced sounds, and IDafter T and D. T- D ID talked played decided dressed ordered wanted wished happened needed Similarly, the plural form S is pronounced S after voiceless sounds, Z after voiced sounds, and IZafter S, Z, SH, and CH. S- Z -IZ desks sisters horses cats legs peaches tops eyes offices The h sound in the pronouns he, him, his, and her and the th sound in them are not pronounced in fast speech when they are unstressed; however, they are pronounced when they are stressed.

I think he flunked bio class. = I think e flunked bio class. I told him to study more. = I told im to study more. He got an A on his final. = He got an A on is final. She thinks her teacher is crazy. = She thinks er teacher is crazy. Pop quizzes I hate them! = Pop quizzes I hate em