Elision: When sounds disappear in spoken English

What is elision?

Elision is the omission of sounds in spoken English. It happens when certain sounds, especially consonants, disappear in fast or casual speech. This makes pronunciation smoother and more natural for native speakers.

For example, in rapid speech, the phrase "next day" may sound like "nex day", with the "t" sound disappearing.

Understanding elision helps English learners improve their listening skills and speak more naturally.

Common examples of elision

Here are some common cases where sounds disappear:

1. Disappearing "t" and "d"

The sounds /t/ and /d/ often disappear when they appear between two consonants.

  • "Next day" → /nekst deɪ/ → /neks deɪ/

  • "Friendship" → /frɛndʃɪp/ → /frɛnʃɪp/

  • "Old man" → /oʊld mæn/ → /oʊl mæn/

2. Disappearing vowels in unstressed syllables

Some unstressed vowels disappear in fast speech, especially in casual conversation.

  • "I am going to" → /aɪ æm ˈɡoʊɪŋ tu/ → /aɪm ˈɡoʊnə/

  • "Did you" → /dɪd ju/ → /dɪdʒu/

3. Disappearing "h" sound

In rapid speech, the /h/ sound in pronouns like he, her, him, his is often dropped.

  • "Tell him" → /tɛl hɪm/ → /tɛl ɪm/

  • "Ask her" → /æsk hɜr/ → /æsk ər/

Practical pronunciation exercises

Exercise 1: Listen and repeat

Try saying these sentences naturally. Pay attention to how sounds disappear.

  1. "I must go now." → /aɪ mʌst ɡoʊ naʊ/ → /aɪ məs ɡoʊ naʊ/

  2. "She is next to me." → /ʃi ɪz nɛkst tu mi/ → /ʃi z neks tə mi/

  3. "Hold the door!" → /hoʊld ðə dɔr/ → /hoʊl ðə dɔr/

Exercise 2: Fill in the missing sounds

Read these sentences aloud and decide which sounds naturally disappear.

  1. "He gave (h)_is book to me."

  2. "I don’t know (t)_he answer."

  3. "She has a(n)_old dress."

Why is elision important?

  1. Improves listening skills – Native speakers often use elision in casual speech.

  2. Makes your speech more natural – Learning elision helps you sound more fluent.

  3. Enhances communication – You will understand and be understood better in real conversations.

Summary

Elision is when sounds disappear in spoken English, making speech faster and smoother. Common examples include:

  • The dropping of t and d sounds between consonants

  • The reduction of unstressed vowels

  • The omission of the h sound in pronouns

Practicing elision will help you understand native speakers and improve your own pronunciation. Keep listening, repeating, and practicing for better fluency!

Would you like to practice more? Try recording yourself saying the sentences above and compare with native pronunciation!

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