Connected Speech: Assimilation

Learn assimilation: sounds change to become more like neighboring sounds in fast speech.

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When to Use

•When you hear native speech and words seem to 'change' at the boundaries.
•When you want smoother pronunciation in fast conversation.
•When practicing listening: assimilation helps you decode unclear consonants.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

In fast speech, a sound may shift toward the place of articulation of the next sound (especially consonant + consonant).

Negative (-)

Do not force assimilation in careful speech; it is optional and depends on speed and style.

Question (?)

Are two consonants next to each other across a boundary? If yes, assimilation may occur.

💡 Common type: /n/ → /m/ before /p b m/ (green park → greem park). British vs US note: assimilation happens in both varieties; the exact frequency depends on speaking style and region, but the core patterns are shared.

Examples

✓green park → /ɡriːm pɑːk/ (possible in fast speech)

✗green | park (always fully separated)

/n/ may become /m/ before a bilabial sound (/p/).

✓ten bikes → /tem baɪks/ (possible)

The final /n/ can assimilate to /m/ before /b/.

✓good boy → /ɡʊb bɔɪ/ (possible)

A final /d/ can shift toward the next consonant’s articulation in very fast speech.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Practice with boundary pairs: green park, ten bikes, in Paris, on Monday.
• Start slow and speed up until the assimilation appears naturally.
• Do listening drills: try to identify the original words from assimilated speech.

connected-speech-word-boundaries connected-speech-elision

Connected Speech: Assimilation

Learn assimilation: sounds change to become more like neighboring sounds in fast speech.

advanced

When to Use

•When you hear native speech and words seem to 'change' at the boundaries.
•When you want smoother pronunciation in fast conversation.
•When practicing listening: assimilation helps you decode unclear consonants.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

In fast speech, a sound may shift toward the place of articulation of the next sound (especially consonant + consonant).

Negative (-)

Do not force assimilation in careful speech; it is optional and depends on speed and style.

Question (?)

Are two consonants next to each other across a boundary? If yes, assimilation may occur.

Examples

✓green park → /ɡriːm pɑːk/ (possible in fast speech)

✗green | park (always fully separated)

/n/ may become /m/ before a bilabial sound (/p/).

✓ten bikes → /tem baɪks/ (possible)

The final /n/ can assimilate to /m/ before /b/.

✓good boy → /ɡʊb bɔɪ/ (possible)

A final /d/ can shift toward the next consonant’s articulation in very fast speech.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Practice with boundary pairs: green park, ten bikes, in Paris, on Monday.
• Start slow and speed up until the assimilation appears naturally.
• Do listening drills: try to identify the original words from assimilated speech.

connected-speech-word-boundaries connected-speech-elision

Connected Speech: Assimilation

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Connected Speech: Assimilation

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗Thinking assimilation is 'wrong pronunciation'

✗Overdoing assimilation in slow, careful speech

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗Thinking assimilation is 'wrong pronunciation'

✗Overdoing assimilation in slow, careful speech

💡 Practice Tips

Related