340 Weak & Strong Pronunciations All unstressed words and syllables can be compressed in speech. However, you will find the most essential weak forms to be aware of below:
Key: C = consonant (remember that /j/ and /w/ are considered consonants) V = vowel (ə) = it is optional to pronounce a vowel → e.g. some /s(ə)m/ = /səm/ or /sm/ P = pause → e.g. there is a pause (or silence) before you start speaking, so the beginning of a phrase will have a pause before it.
(h) = pronounce /h/ if there is a pause before → e.g. his house is round the corner. = it is optional to pronounce this /h/ if there is a vowel before → I’ll see her tomorrow.
(r) = pronounce /r/ if there is a vowel sound afterwards → e.g. I like her ideas /ʌɪ laɪk ər ʌɪdɪəz/ ˈ = the following syllable is stressed (the symbol looks like an apostrophe)
Word Weak Form
Adjectival words a
/ə/ + C an the
some4 his
her /(ə)n/ + V
/ðə/ + C /ði/ + V /s(ə)m/ /(h)ɪz/
/(h)ə(r)/ 5 Example Sentence
That’s a nice idea. That’s an awful idea.
That’s the correct answer. That’s the incorrect answer. Have you got some chocolate? What’s his name?
What’s her name? Give her her bag back! /gɪv ə hə/
Strong Form
/eɪ/ /an/
/ðiː/
/sʌm/ /hɪz/
/həː(r)/ Example Sentence
We have ˈa cat – not ˈthree. I said “a nap” not “ ˈan app”.
You met ˈthe Tom Hanks? Or was it just someone with the same name?
ˈSome people like chocolate and others don’t. Why is ˈhis meal bigger than ˈhers?
It’s ˈher idea – not ˈmine.
4 The weak form /s(ə)m/ is used when it means “an unspecified quantity or number” before a noun or noun phrase. When it is used to signify an unknown person or thing it is usually /sʌm/: some idiot has taken my bag by mistake. The words somebody, somehow, someone, something, sometimes, somewhere are stressed on the first syllable and
pronounced /sʌm/. 5 The adjective her can be pronounced with a longer vowel or with /h/ to distinguish between her and a /ə/: it’s her bag /hə/ or /əː/ compared to it’s a bag /ə/. herself is usually without /h/ when before a consonant. hers is always with /h/.
