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Everyday small talk

Casual conversation runs on a small set of adverbs and softeners that native speakers heavily compress: probably becomes prob-ly and definitely becomes def-nit-ly. Saying them in full syllable by syllable sounds stilted. Listen for how much gets swallowed.

Accent

15 words · intermediate · your accent and voice are remembered across the site. More options on the settings page.

The words

actually
probably
definitely
whatever
obviously
basically
apparently
honestly
seriously
exactly
anyway
literally
suppose
really
alright

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Commonly mispronounced words
The words almost everyone says wrong: espresso, sherbet, mischievous, prerogative.
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Weak form words
To, of, and, for, can: function words that shrink to a schwa in real speech. Hear both forms.
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Contractions
Don't, won't, they'd, shouldn't: contracted forms and how they actually sound at speed.
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Number and date words
Thirteen or thirty? Fifteen or fifty? The stress is the only clue. Hear the pairs contrasted.
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Words that lose a syllable
Chocolate, comfortable, vegetable: fewer syllables than the spelling suggests. Hear the real count.
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Keep practising

Browse every practice list or the word index, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.

To read the rules behind these words, see the pronunciation guides — including silent letters, word stress and American vs British. Or hear each accent on its own page: American, British, Australian.