30 More Reductions for English Fluency and Rhythm!

(Video Transcript)

American English Rhythm and Fluency: More Reductions

Hi, I’m Julie with San Diego Voice and Accent. And if you’re watching this video, you probably want to improve the fluency and rhythm of your spoken English. This video is going to do just that!

Not too long ago, I published a video that taught you thirty reductions that you should be using to increase your fluency and rhythm. So many of you liked that video that I decided to make another one today…so you’re about to learn thirty more reductions that are guaranteed to increase your English fluency and rhythm and help you to sound more like a native speaker.

If you haven’t watched the first video, you can find that link in the description below. In that video, I give the background information about reductions – what they are, when they occur in spoken English, and why they even exist. So check out that video if you want all the background information…because in this video, we’re going to get right down to the practice.

But one quick reminder before we do that. Remember that reductions only occur in spoken English, not in written English. So you must, must, must rely on your ears to guide you. Close your eyes and pay attention to what you hear, not how the words are spelled. You want to imitate exactly what you hear, not the spelling, not how you think a word is pronounced. Pay close attention to what you hear, and imitate that, even if it doesn’t make sense.

Let’s get started. Here are thirty more reductions that you can use TODAY to increase your English fluency and rhythm, just like a native speaker.

Determiners

1. Some reduces to “sm”.
1. I need some help.

Pronouns

1. You reduces to “yuh”
1. Ya know what? It’s true!
2. She reduces to “she” - very quick, maybe no vowel at all
1. That’s what she told me.
3. We reduces to “we” - very quick, maybe no vowel at all
1. I think we can do it.
4. They reduces to “theh” - not a diphthong anymore
1. It’s like they don’t care.

Auxiliary and Modal Verbs

1. Am reduces to um
1. What am I supposed to do? 
2. Was reduces to a quick schwa, wuz, wuz 
1. He was late.
3. Has reduces to huz
1. She has gone home.
4. Had reduces to hud
1. If I had known, I would have said yes.
5. Must reduces to a quick schwa, and sometimes the T drops due to Rule of three
1. You must be tired.

Prepositions and Conjunctions

1. From reduces to a quick schwa, or maybe no vowel at all
1. She came from school. 
2. And reduces to uhn or just the N sound, n
1. It’s just you and me.
3. Than reduces to then
1. Better late than never.

Pronoun Contractions

1. I’m reduces to um
1. I think I’m ready to go.
2. We’ll reduces to will or wuhl
1. I think we’ll leave at 3.
3. You’ll reduces to yuhl
1. You’ll be late if you don’t leave now.
4. She’ll reduces to shuhl
1. I think she’ll say yes.
5. He’ll reduces to huhl
1. I think he’ll say yes.
6. They’ll reduces to thul
1. I hope they’ll say yes.

Bonus: Blended reductions (2–3 words reduced together)

1. Going to reduces to gonna
1. I’m gonna go eat.
2.  Want to reduces to wanna
1. I wanna help.
3. Got to reduces to gotta
1. I’ve gotta go.
4. Let me reduces to lemme
1. Lemme see.
5. Give me reduces to gimme
1. Gimme that, please.
6. Sort of reduces to sorta
1. I sorta agree.
7. Lot of reduces to lotta
1. That’s a lotta people.
8. Out of reduces to outta
1. We’re outta time.
9. Kind of reduces to kinda
1. It’s kinda weird.
10. Ought to reduces to odda
1. You odda say yes.
11. Used to reduces to useta
1. I used to play the guitar.

Great job! You just learned thirty reductions that are guaranteed to boost your English fluency and rhythm, and help you to sound more like a native speaker. So…how did it go? Was this hard, easy, somewhere in the middle? Did you learn any new reductions today? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this video, here’s an easy way that you can show your support. Please subscribe to my channel and hit the like button or add a comment below. This is the best way to show your support, and it’s entirely free and takes no time at all. Every subscriber helps, so please click that subscribe button!

English Pro: Online English Training

And if you want to train with me and learn even more reductions…and receive one to one coaching on your pronunciation during live English classes…then enroll in my comprehensive online training program called English Pro. You’ll receive training in all areas of the American accent and voice placement - the vowels, consonants, intonation, stress, reductions, vocabulary, and voice placement that native speakers are using in their everyday conversations. Plus, all students of English Pro can volunteer to work with me, one on one, during weekly live English classes, where I’ll give you feedback on your specific speaking patterns. So check out the description below to learn more about how we can work together to help you reach your English speaking goals.

Exclusive Online Training: YouTube Membership

Oh, and one more thing: If you want exclusive practice videos that you can watch here on my channel, then join my channel now and become a member. I upload new practice videos and audio lessons to my YouTube channel every month, and these are for YouTube members only, so click the “join” button below so you can start learning with this exclusive practice content.

Thanks so much for watching, and happy practicing!