Common Reduced Forms in American English

 Going to is pronounced GONNA when it is used to show the future. But it is never reduced when it means going from one place to another 

We're going to grab a bite to eat. = We're gonna grab a bite to eat 

I'm going to the office tonight. = I'm going to the office tonight 

 Want to and want a are both pronounced WANNA and wants to is pronounced  

WANSTA. Do you want to can also be reduced to WANNA 

I want to go for a spin. = I wanna go for a spin
 

Do you want a piece of cake? = Wanna piece of cake 

He wants to avoid rush hour. = He wansta avoid rush hour 

 Have to is pronounced HAFTA and has to is pronounced HASTA 

Sorry, I have to leave now. = Sorry, I hafta leave now 

She has to go to work soon. = She hasta go to work soon 

 Have reduces to AV or A in positive and negative phrases

must have = must'av or must'a 

 must not have = mustn'av or mustn'a
 

would have = would'av or would'a  

would not have =  wouldn'av or wouldn'a
 

could have = could'av or could'a  

could not have = couldn'av or couldn'a
 

should have = should'av or should'a  

should not have = shouldn'av or shouldn'a

 You is almost always pronounced YA  

you're and your are pronounced YER 

and yours is pronounced YERS 

Do you feel under the weather? = Do ya feel under the weather
 

You're completely right. = Yer completely right 

Your brother will be fine. = Yer brother will be fine 

Is this book yours? = Is this book yers
  

To is pronounced TA after voiceless sounds and  

DA after voiced sounds

She wants to invite us to the party. = She wants ta invite us ta the party
I need to go to bed now. = I need da go da bed now 

7. And and in both reduce to N 

Karen and Steve are coming to visit. = Karen 'n Steve are coming to visit 

Tim is in Paris this week. = Tom is 'n Paris this week 

 D + Y = J T + Y = CH
did you = did'ju or did'ja  

let you = let'chu or let'cha
would you = would'ju or would'ja  

what you = what'chu or what'cha
 

could you = could'ju or could'ja  

don't you = don'chu or don'cha
 

should you = should'ju or should'ja  

didn't you = didn'chu or didn'cha


 T is pronounced as D when it is between two vowels

That's a great idea. = That's a gread idea 

What a great car! = What a great car 

T is not pronounced when it is between N and E 

center = cen'er
counted = coun'ed


 The past tense form -ED is pronounced T after voiceless sounds, D  

after voiced sounds, and ID after T and D 

T D ID
talked played decided
dressed ordered wanted
wished happened needed

Similarly, the plural form –S is pronounced S after voiceless sounds, Z after voiced sounds, and IZ after S, Z, SH, and CH.

S Z IZ
desks sisters horses
cats legs peaches
tops eyes offices

 

 The h sound in the pronouns he, him, his, and her and the th sound  

in them are not pronounced in fast speech when they are unstressed 

however, they are pronounced when they are stressed 

I think he flunked bio class. = I think 'e flunked bio classI told him to  

study more. = I told 'im to study more 

He got an A on his final. = He got an A on 'is final.
She thinks her teacher is crazy. = She thinks 'er teacher is crazy.
Pop quizzes... I hate them! = Pop quizzes... I hate 'em