How to Pronounce Contractions: American English Pronunciation

There are many different contractions that Americans use in spoken and written English. Learn how to pronounce some of them here!

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Cải thiện nói tiếng Anh Mỹ / 음성 미국 영어를 향상 / 話されているアメリカ英語を向上させる / Улучшение говорил американский вариант английского языка / Meningkatkan berbicara bahasa Inggris Amerika / Melhorar a fala Inglês Americano / Mejorar el habla Inglés Americano / 提高口语的美式英语 / बात अमेरिकी अंग्रेजी में सुधार / تحسين يتحدث اللغة الإنجليزية الأميركية

...with Rachel's English!

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[paulkim]

Shot cuts
0:20 be verbs
1:13 has
1:35 be verbs
3:57 have
6:25 will
9:07 had and would
10:57 did

[rachelsenglish]

Yes, that is the full pronunciation. But Americans tend to do a lot of reductions of function words, such as this one, and many dictionaries don't cover those pronunciations. Try using this reduction, it will sound great!

[luiscavalcanti]

You’ve definitely made my day…. Not even when I’d studied English long time ago, I couldn’t have learned that much … you really know what you’re doing… it’s so good to find someone who knows one’s territory, speaking with authority… kudos

[rachelsenglish]

Yes, that can happen. I would focus more on making it a light sound than worrying about if it is voiced or unvoiced. If you worry about that too much, the sound could get heavy and stop the flow of air a little bit.

[skyline]

So complex, but it is extremely useful in conversation!Thank you so much, Rachel.

[moacirmeireles]

Hi Rachel! this video is what everyone could want from a TEACHER and you're the only one who thought about it. You're the best TEACHER forever. Congratulations.

[lugatipue]

RACHEL; MUCHAS GRACIAS POR TUS VIDEOS, ME SON DE GRAN AYUDA, ERES MUY PROFESIONAL Y TAMBIEN MUY BONITA, UNA GRAN PERSONA, MUCHAS GRACIAS. BYE

[superanimefan]

I am american and a native speaker of english. Not sure how I eneded up on these videos, but I find it kind of fascinating to watch someone break down the sounds of english and explain them. Also, I've never realized how many contractions we have and how often we use them without a second thought O_o
I have noticed some esl people tend to have a hard time knowing when to use contractions. After watching this, I can't blame them. I've head someone say "I haven't money" and other similar misuses of contractions.

[DavidJimenez-mygn]

I watched this lesson a few years ago. Now I'm back to review it. Thank you Rachel you are the best English pronunciation teacher ever.

[rachelsenglish]

1) Yes, I was born in the US
2) Just slightly
3) You want the use the schwa sound in sentences. But if you're just saying the letter on its own, then you say AY.

[MrKOKILANDIA]

After so many years of learning English, I have to say that I have never been aware of contractions, wow, I see how different and natural you can sound by using them. Thank you a lot, Rachel!

[dr.mohammedazeez]

You're the best english teacher ... thank you so much

[AmericanSpanish]

The most beautiful thing you have as an English teacher is your seriousness combined with joy

[rachelsenglish]

Good question. I tend to separate sounds from length since length depends on stress. So I would say it has the same sounds, but will most likely be quicker. Of course different people speak at different paces.

[englishadventureswithteach]

I've watched your videos many times and often recommend your videos to my students. This video about the pronunciation of contractions is especially helpful. Thank you!

[africanpolyglot]

It's very nice what you do, because of you, of ur many video, i'm a real english-speaker. Thank you !
From Ivory Coast !

[MegaOmbeni]

Hi Rachel, your videos really helped me a lot. I'm Swahili native speaker but my English is improved for the moment. I'm so thankful,
Seth Rochester NY

[chelseachristopher]

Thank you so much Rachel for make this learning so easy and natural to pronounce, I took a pronunciation class 2 years ago and I couldn't learn so well like now, instead was very confusing.

[eddymachin]

Se lo escribiré en español, quizá así encuentre lo que deseo transmitirle: ud nació para lo que hace, que no es solo enseñar inglés de la mejor y más dedicada forma que haya visto. Transmite alegría, optimismo, felicidad. Sus clases son, además de instructivas una joya de entrega y buena vibra. Que la vida sea buena con usted. Gracias por estar

[rachelsenglish]

Yes, of course I have a video on that! Go to my website, click on 'sounds', and then click on the video for L.