List of Common English Weak Forms
*Weak forms occur only in unstressed positions
1. Articles
a
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Strong: /eɪ/
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Weak: /ə/
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Example: I saw a /ə/ dog outside.
an
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Strong: /æn/
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Weak: /ən/
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Example: She bought an /ən/ apple.
the
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Strong: /ðiː/
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Weak: /ðə/
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Example: Open the /ðə/ door.
2. Prepositions
of
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Strong: /ɒv/
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Weak: /əv/, /v/
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Example: A cup of /əv/ tea.
to
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Strong: /tuː/
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Weak: /tə/
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Example: I want to /tə/ go.
for
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Strong: /fɔːr/
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Weak: /fə/
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Example: This is for /fə/ you.
from
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Strong: /frɒm/
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Weak: /frəm/
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Example: She’s from /frəm/ Italy.
at
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Strong: /æt/
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Weak: /ət/
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Example: I’ll see you at /ət/ six.
3. Pronouns
him
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Strong: /hɪm/
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Weak: /ɪm/
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Example: I saw him /ɪm/ yesterday.
her
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Strong: /hɜːr/
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Weak: /ə/, /ər/
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Example: Give it her /ə/.
them
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Strong: /ðem/
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Weak: /ðəm/
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Example: Tell them /ðəm/ later.
us
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Strong: /ʌs/
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Weak: /əs/
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Example: Send us /əs/ a message.
you
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Strong: /juː/
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Weak: /jə/
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Example: Did you /jə/ see it?
4. Auxiliary & Modal Verbs
am
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Strong: /æm/
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Weak: /əm/, /m/
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Example: I’m /m/ tired.
are
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Strong: /ɑːr/
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Weak: /ə/, /ər/
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Example: You’re /ər/ late.
is
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Strong: /ɪz/
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Weak: /z/, /s/
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Example: She’s /z/ here.
was / were
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Strong: /wɒz/, /wɜːr/
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Weak: /wəz/, /wə/
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Example: He was /wəz/ tired.
have
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Strong: /hæv/
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Weak: /həv/, /əv/, /v/
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Example: I’ve /v/ finished.
has
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Strong: /hæz/
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Weak: /həz/, /əz/, /z/
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Example: She’s /z/ gone.
had
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Strong: /hæd/
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Weak: /həd/, /əd/, /d/
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Example: They’d /d/ left.
can
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Strong: /kæn/
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Weak: /kən/
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Example: I can /kən/ help.
could
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Strong: /kʊd/
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Weak: /kəd/
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Example: We could /kəd/ try.
should
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Strong: /ʃʊd/
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Weak: /ʃəd/
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Example: You should /ʃəd/ go.
would
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Strong: /wʊd/
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Weak: /wəd/
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Example: I would /wəd/ stay.
must
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Strong: /mʌst/
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Weak: /məst/
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Example: You must /məst/ know.
5. Conjunctions & Function Words
and
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Strong: /ænd/
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Weak: /ənd/, /ən/, /n/
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Example: Fish and /n/ chips.
but
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Strong: /bʌt/
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Weak: /bət/
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Example: I tried, but /bət/ failed.
that
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Strong: /ðæt/
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Weak: /ðət/
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Example: I think that /ðət/ it’s fine.
as
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Strong: /æz/
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Weak: /əz/
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Example: As /əz/ you said.
6. Negatives (Reduced Forms)
not
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Strong: /nɒt/
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Weak: /nət/
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Example: I’m not /nət/ ready.
don’t
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Strong: /dəʊnt/
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Weak: /dənt/
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Example: I don’t /dənt/ know.
can’t
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Strong: /kɑːnt/
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Weak: /kɑːnt/ (often unchanged, but reduced stress)
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Example: I can’t finish today.
7. Fixed Weak-Form Phrases
kind of → /ˈkaɪnə/
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It’s kind of /ˈkaɪnə/ strange.
sort of → /ˈsɔːtə/
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I sort of /ˈsɔːtə/ agree.
going to → /ˈgənə/
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I’m gonna /ˈgənə/ leave.
want to → /ˈwɒnə/
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I wanna /ˈwɒnə/ sleep.
got to → /ˈgɒtə/
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I’ve gotta /ˈgɒtə/ go.
8. Key Notes (Important)
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Weak forms occur only in unstressed positions.
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Strong forms appear:
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at sentence end
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for contrast or emphasis
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in careful or formal speech
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Example contrast:
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I can /kæn/ do it — not you. (strong)
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I can /kən/ do it. (weak)