"Speak English as Americans do"

Forewarning: All languages have spoken forms which are unacceptable when written but completely acceptable when spoken. That's why I think it is so important to alert your students to the differences between the written and spoken forms. To not do so is a great disservice to your students, as 99% of the time, be it in videos, presentations or talking with native speakers, they will hear Relaxed Pronunciation. Of course, I am not encouraging neither you nor your students to use Relaxed Pronunciation all the time. It's really up to you and of course you should really be selective when it comes to sound very informal. (The context will help you determine the appropriate time. Above all, be sensible. Have fun and enjoy the list!


BIN=BEEN
How have you "bin"?

Y=YOU
Y'know what I mean?

WHADDJA= WHAT DID YOU
Whaddja do over the weekend?

WHADDYA= WHAT DO YOU
Whaddya say?

HAFTA= HAVE TO
I have to go now.

WUTCHER= WHAT IS YOUR
Wutcher name?

TSKO= LET'S GO
Tsko to the movies!

TSUP= WHAT'S UP?

DUNNO= DON'T KNOW
Does she go with you? I dunno.

NKU= THANK YOU
Nky. It's very kindavyou!

KINDA= KIND OF
It's very kindavyou.

SORTA= SORT OF
She is sorta cool.
DJA= DID YOU
Dja ever notice she is quite beautiful?

WOULDNA= WOULD NOT
I wouldna notice the use of this Relaxed Forms if...

WOULDA= WOULD HAVE
I woulda gone but she showed up and I had to stay home.

SHOULDA= SHOULD HAVE
You shoulda told me he was your boyfriend!!!!

COULDA= COULD HAVE
You coulda come with us. The party was a blast!

MIGHTA= MIGHT HAVE
She mighta gotten sick.

PROLLY= PROBABLY
He is prolly working now.

KIN= CAN
I kin stay here with you.

WATCHA= WHAT DO YOU
Watcha mean?

WHADJUH= WHAT DID YOU
Whadjuh say, Sir?

BETTA= HAD BETTER
I betta go now.

MELP YOU= MAY I HELP YOU?
Melp you, Sir?

GOTTA= HAVE GOT TO
I gotta go now.

GONNA= GOING TO
I'm gonna write to you.

WANNA= WANT TO
I wanna see ya again.

DJUHVA= DO YOU HAVE A
Djuhva wife?

LEMME= LET ME
Lemme show you something!

GIMME= GIVE ME
Gimme a few minutes to think it over.

OUTTA= OUT OF
Get outta here

LOTTA= LOT OF
I have a lotta friends

CUP A LOVE= COUPLE OF
I have a cup a love friends

IZZY= IS HE?
Izzy your brother?

DOEZZY= DOES HE
Doezzy like you?

YOUSTA= USED TO
He usta come here every day.

SOUN SCOOD= IT SOUNDS GOOD!

CUZ= BECAUSE
Cuz I don't like you.

SUM= SOME
Dyav sum for me?

FUR= FOR
Dyav sum fur me?

 

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