Today we need to talk about several words that lose a syllable

in fast speech.

I just used one. Do you know what it was?

English with Jennifer

"Several" is a word that could be said with three syllables:

sev er al

But usually we say it with just two syllables,

especially in fast, relaxed speech:

There are other words that follow a similar pattern.

They can be said two different ways.

The shorter variation is, of course, more common in fast, relaxed speech.

Let me show you a few different groups of words

that can lose a syllable, especially in fast speech.

I'll read each word twice.

First, slowly. And then with fast speech, where I drop a syllable.

Let's look at more words with a vowel + R.

You'll see a similar pattern.

Here's another group.

OUR when it's unstressed is said with one syllable: "ar."

And our last word.

This word leads us into the next group,

where we drop a sound before L.

...could be heard as "prob'ly."

...is usually said as "choc'late."

And we have two examples of very relaxed speech.

BECAUSE can sound like "coz."

Remember that's a spoken form, not a written form.

EXCUSE ME can sound like "Scuse me."

Or with a hint of that X...

Listen closely.

I'll say a sentence.

You try to understand.

That's all for now.

Thanks for watching and happy studies.