Now, in everyday spoken American English, when a word ends with an “ee” sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, we often connect those sounds with a very small, quick Y sound.
I call this the tiny Y.
Like, see it. We don’t stop the sound, and in one breath we say, see-yit. It’s not see. it. It’s see-yit. Like, That movie? I’m gonna see-yit tomorrow. Did you hear the tiny y? I’m gonna see-yit tomorrow.
Here are some other examples:
She is sounds like she-yiz. She-yiz the boss.
We are sounds like we-yar. We-yar happy to see you!
Many apples sounds like meni-yapples. There are meni-yapples on the table.
This tiny Y keeps the flow smooth and natural. Be sure to practice these phrases yourself this week and they will become part of your English.
FAQ
Question: How do we connect sounds in American English?
Answer: When a word ends with an “ee” sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, we often connect those sounds Y sound.
Enjoyed this lesson?
Get free weekly English lessons, podcast updates, and practical tips to help you speak more natural, confident English.
Join Free Weekly English Lessons
Have an idea for a future podcast topic?
Send me a message here.