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English Highway Podcast Pronunciation: Dropped Syllables (#0283) Practice saying words containing unpronounced syllables.

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Hi. I’m your coach Andres Moreno, and it’s time for another audio lesson. I really enjoy teaching these lessons because they make such a big difference in your English. Every new lesson is a new sound that you feel confident about.

Today’s topic is dropped syllables. In some words in English, a syllable simply disappears, usually to make communication faster and easier.

Let’s try some one-syllable words. Repeat after me:

“walked”

It’s not “walk-ked,” two syllables but simply a one-syllable word, “walked.” We drop the extra syllable at the end. Here’s another example. Repeat after me:

“opened”

That’s right. You wouldn’t say, “open-ned.” You say, “opened.” You make it flow. So repeat after me:

“opened”

“walked”

Make it flow:

“walked”

“opened”

That’s it. Here are a few more examples. Repeat after me:

“planned”

“closed”

“talked”

And again:

“planned”

“closed”

“talked”

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These words are pretty easy to say because they’re one-syllable words.

Now, let’s try some two syllable words that contain disappearing syllables. Listen and repeat after me:

“chocolate”

You wouldn’t say, “choc-o-late.” You say, “chocolate.” So repeat after me:

“chocolate”

You make it flow and the syllables disappear. Even though it looks like “chocolate” should be three syllables, “choc-o-late,” you don’t pronounce that second syllable, the “o.” You simply say:

“chocolate”

That’s it:

“chocolate”

Let’s try with some more examples. Repeat after me:

“several”

And again:

“several”

You wouldn’t say, “sev-er-al,” three syllables. You say:

“several”

Last time:

“several”

You got it. Here’s another example. Repeat after me:

“business”

That’s it. Business is not a three syllable word. You wouldn’t say, “bus-i-ness,” You say, “business.”

“business”

That’s it. Here’s another very common example. Listen and repeat after me:

“Wednesday”

Again, “Wednesday” is not a three syllable word. You wouldn’t say, “Wed-


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nes-day.” You say, “Wednesday.”

Make it flow:

“Wednesday.”

Last example, repeat after me:

“every”

“every”

Again, “every” could be a three syllable word, “ev-e-ry,” but it isn’t. You would say:

“every”

Last time:

“every”

That’s it. It’s usually the second syllable that disappears as in “several,” “business,” “Wednesday” and “every.”

Now, let’s try some three syllable words with disappearing syllables. Repeat after me:

“vegetable”

You wouldn’t say, “veg-e-ta-ble.” You say:

“vegetable”

Make it flow:

“vegetable”

That’s right. Here’s another example:

“interesting”

Repeat after me:

“interesting”

We wouldn’t say, “in-ter-est-ing.” We say:

“interesting”

Last time, come on:

“interesting”


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I think you got it. To end this, let’s look at some four syllable words that have disappearing syllables. Listen and repeat after me:

“elementary”

Again:

“elementary”

That’s it. We wouldn’t say, “el-e-men-ta-ry.” You say, “elementary.” You make it flow. So repeat after me:

“elementary”

Last time:

“elementary”

Way to go. Here’s another example. Listen carefully:

“uncomfortable”

Repeat after me:

“uncomfortable”

That’s it. We wouldn’t say, “un-com-fort-a-ble.” We say, “uncomfortable.” We say it quickly. Make it flow:

“uncomfortable”

That’s it. I know it’s tough, but you can do it. Last time:

“uncomfortable”

Congratulations! That was a difficult lesson. I recommend that you listen to this audio session again and again until it becomes easy for you. Until next time and remember, practice makes perfect!

For additional practice, turn on your computer and go to OpenEnglish.com. At OpenEnglish, you’ll find hundreds of interactive lessons and videos to help you perfect your English.Accelerate your English today. See you soon.

Additional practice: Dropped syllables

Words:walkedopenedplannedclosedtalkedchocolateseveral


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businessWednesdayeveryvegetableinterestingelementaryuncomfortable


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