Connected Speech in American English

1. Consonant to Vowel

When a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, the consonant “moves” to the beginning of the next word:

  • an apple → [ə‿ˈnæ.pɫ̩]
  • an orange → [ə‿ˈnɔːr.ɪndʒ]
  • turn off → [tɚ‿nɔːf]
  • stop it! → [ˈstɑ‿pɪt]
  • drink it → [ˈd͡ʒɹɪŋ‿kɪt]
  • this is good! → [ˈðɪ‿sɪz ˈɡʊd̚]
  • this afternoon → [ðɪ‿sæf.tɚˈnun]
  • let it go → [lɛ‿t̬ɪ‿ˈɡoʊ]
  • not at all. → [ˈnɑ.t̬ə.ˈt̬ɔl]
  • keep it up. → [ˈkʰi.pɪ.ˌt̬ʌp]
  • put it away → [ˈpʰʊ.t̬ɪ.t̬əˈweɪ]
  • a lot of people → [ə ˈlɑt̬.ə ˈpipəl]
  • these are → [ði‿zɚ]
  • I like it → [aɪ‿ˈlaɪ.kɪt̚]
  • watch out → [ˈwɑ‿tʃaʊt̚]
  • wake up → [ˈweɪ‿kʌp̚]
  • hold on → [ˈhoʊl‿dɑn]
  • come in → [ˈkʰʌ‿mɪn]

2. Vowel to Vowel

Intrusion

When a word ends in a vowel sound and the next begins with one, a tiny /w/ or /j/ glide is inserted to smooth the transition.

Intrusive /j/:

  • I am → [aɪ‿jæm]
  • she is → [ʃi‿jɪz]
  • they are → [ðeɪ‿jɑɹ]
  • say it → [ˈseɪ‿jɪt̚]
  • my own → [maɪ‿joʊn]

Intrusive /w/:

  • go away → [ˈɡoʊ‿wəˈweɪ]
  • go out → [ˈɡoʊ‿waʊt]
  • how is it? → [ˈhaʊ‿wɪ‿zɪt̚]
  • go on → [ˈɡoʊ‿wɑn]
  • two angry men → [ˈtu‿ˈwæŋ.ɡɹi ˈmɛn]
  • just do it → [dʒəs‿ˈdu‿wɪt̚]

3. Consonant to Consonant

  • big game → [bɪ‿ɡeɪm]
  • some might → [sʌ‿maɪt]
  • black cat → [blæ‿ˈkæt̚]
  • a good day → [ə ɡʊ‿deɪ]
  • feel like → [fiː‿laɪk]
  • gas station → [ɡæ‿steɪʃn̩]

Assimilation

/n/ before /p, b, m/:

  • ten men → [ˈtʰɛm‿ˈmɛn]
  • ten minutes → [ˈtʰɛm‿ˈmɪn.ɪts]
  • ten books → [ˈtʰɛm‿ˈbʊks]
  • one boat → [wʌm‿ˈboʊt]
  • I can buy → [aɪ‿kəm‿baɪ]
  • in person → /ɪm‿ˈpɝːsən/
  • in Brazil → /ɪm‿bɹəˈzɪl/
  • in Paris → /ɪm‿ˈpʰɛɹ.ɪs/
  • on Monday → [ɑm‿ˈmʌn.deɪ]
  • green park → [ˈɡɹiːm‿ˈpʰɑɹk]

/n/ before /k, g/:

  • can go → [kʰəŋ‿ˈɡoʊ]
  • ten cups → [ˈtʰɛŋ‿ˈkʰʌps]
  • ten kings → [ˈtʰɛŋ‿ˈkʰɪŋz]
  • green grapes → [ˈɡɹiŋ‿ˈɡɹeɪps]
  • ten coins → [ˈtʰɛŋ‿ˈkʰɔɪnz]

/t/, /d/, or /n/ before /ð/:

  • not that → [nɑ‿æt]
  • I’m at the store → [aɪm‿ə‿ə‿ˈstɔɹ]
  • read this /rid ðɪs/ → [ɹi‿ɪs]
  • get in the car → [ɡɛt̬ ɪn̪‿ə kɑːɹ]
  • open the door → [ˈoʊpən̪‿ə dɔːɹ]
  • down there → [daʊn̪‿ɛɹ]
  • in the morning → [ɪn̪‿ə ˈmɔːɹnɪŋ]
  • on the table → [ɒn̪‿ə teɪbəl]
  • better than that → [ˈbɛt̬ɚ ðæ‿æt]

/s/ before /ʃ, j/:

  • nice shoes → [ˈnaɪ.ʃuz]
  • this shirt → [ˈðɪ.ʃɚt̚]
  • who is she?
  • is she okay?
  • is she late for work?

/t/ before /j/:

  • don’t you → [ˈdoʊn‿u]
  • meet you → [ˈmiː‿u]
  • get your → [ˈɡɛ‿əɹ]
  • trust your gut →
  • don’t worry, I got you covered →

/d/ before /j/:

  • did you → [ˈdɪ‿dʒu]
  • could you →
  • hide your

Elision

Elision of /t/:

  • next week → [ˈnɛks wiːk]
  • next door → [nɛks ˈdɔɹ]
  • old man →
  • best friend →
  • just saying →
  • I must go → [aɪ məs ˈɡoʊ]
  • just one →
  • went away →
  • just let me know → [ˈdʒʌ‿sˈlɛ.mi‿ˈnoʊ]

Elision of /d/:

  • rock and roll → [rɑk n̩ ˈroʊl]
  • black and white → [ˈblæk n̩ ˈwaɪt]
  • boys and girls

Elision of /h/:

  • tell her → /ˈtɛl‿ɚ/
  • ask her → /æsk‿ɚ/
  • I love her → [aɪ ˈləv‿ɚ]
  • I believe him → [aɪ bɪˈli‿vɪm]
  • go easy on him → [ˈɡoʊ‿ˈi.zi‿ɑ‿nɪm]
  • this is his sister → [ˈðɪs‿ɪz‿ɪz ˈsistəɹ]
  • was he there? → [wə‿zi‿ˈðɛɹ]
  • we have seen → [wi.j‿əv sin]
  • don’t you have a house? → [ˈdoʊn.tʃu‿əv‿ə‿haʊs]
  • the goodness of his character → [ðə ˈɡʊdnəs əv‿ɪz ˈkʰɛɹəktɚ]

Elision of /ð/:

  • I gave it to them → [aɪ ˈɡeɪv ɪt̚ tu ɛm]
  • show it to them → [ˈʃoʊ ɪt tu ɛm]
  • all of them → [ɑl‿əv‿ɛm]