Contractions are shortened forms of two words spoken as one unit. In everyday conversation, English often joins words like I am, you are, he is, and do not into shorter forms such as I'm, you're, he's, and don't. These forms are common in speech and in informal writing. They belong naturally in Informal Speech, while careful or formal writing often prefers the full words. The spelling and sound changes in contractions follow normal English pronunciation patterns, so listening for them is an important part of Pronunciation.

The apostrophe shows where letters are missing. In didn't, the apostrophe stands for the missing o in not. In I'm, it marks the missing a in am. In he's, it marks the missing i in is or the missing a in has. The apostrophe does not show possession in these forms; it shows that two words have been shortened and joined together. Read the whole contraction as a single spoken form, not as separate letters.

Apostrophe use in contracted forms

Idea
An apostrophe shows missing letters in a contraction.
A contraction can join two words into one shorter form.
The apostrophe stays in the place of the omitted part.

I'm sounds like I plus a short, weak m sound at the end. The second word am loses its strong vowel, so the middle vowel becomes a very small schwa sound, or disappears into the nasal ending. You're works the same way. The full vowel in are becomes weak, and the whole form is short and smooth. In fast speech, I am and you are can sound almost like one quick syllable after the first word. The same reduction appears in other contractions such as we're and they're.

Weak vowel in common subject contractions

Word	Notation	Description	Example
I'm	/aɪm/	The second word is reduced, so the pronunciation has one smooth beat.	I said I'm ready.
you're	/jʊr/	The weak vowel sound makes the form shorter and quicker in speech.	I think you're right.
we're	/wɪr/	The middle sound is reduced, so the contraction sounds light and fast.	We're leaving now.

In he's and she's, the spoken form ends with the voiced z sound, not the voiceless s sound. Say the vowel briefly, then let the voice continue through the final consonant. The same pattern appears in it's and that's. They're is the contraction of they are. In careful speech, it often begins with the consonant blend /ðeɪ/ and ends with a reduced vowel sound, then the r sound in accents that pronounce it. The whole form stays light and quick, with no full stress on are.

Linked sounds in be contractions

Word	Notation	Description	Example
he's	/hiz/	The final sound is a voiced z sound after the vowel.	He's at school today.
she's	/ʃiz/	The ending also uses a voiced z sound after the sh sound.	She's very kind.
they're	/ðer/	The form sounds smooth and blended in careful everyday speech.	They're coming soon.

Don't has a clear final t in careful speech, but the vowel is short and the middle part is reduced. The mouth stays fairly small, and the word ends quickly. Won't does not sound like want. It has a different vowel and a rounded lip shape at the start, followed by a nasal sound and a final t. The contrast between won't and want is useful because the two words can sound similar at speed, but the vowel and ending are not the same. In connected speech, negative contractions usually carry less stress than the main verb.

Negative contraction pronunciation patterns

Word	Notation	Description	Example
don't	/doʊnt/	The contraction keeps a clear t sound at the end.	I don't know.
won't	/woʊnt/	This form is pronounced differently from want and has a long vowel sound.	She won't stay long.
didn't	/dɪdnt/	The middle vowel is reduced, so the word keeps a tight consonant shape.	We didn't see it.

Contractions often lose stress inside a sentence and fit into the rhythm of connected speech. Can't usually has a strong final t release or a clear stop before the next word, especially when the speaker wants emphasis. Didn't keeps its spoken consonant shape with two d sounds and a short middle vowel, even though the spelling looks shortened. Faster speech uses a smaller jaw opening and less movement between sounds, so I didn't know can flow quickly without sounding broken into separate parts. The same smooth rhythm appears in many contractions, and it is part of natural English pronunciation in everyday conversation.

Stress and rhythm in natural contraction speech

Idea
In fast speech, a contraction often gets less stress than the main verb.
didn't keeps its spoken consonant shape even when the vowel is reduced.
A smaller jaw opening can help contractions sound more natural in connected speech.

They're can sound slightly different across English accents. In rhotic accents, such as many accents in North America, the r in they're is pronounced clearly. In non-rhotic accents, such as many accents in England, the r is often not pronounced unless another vowel follows. Careful speech may also use a fuller, slower form when someone wants extra clarity. The same kind of regional difference can affect other contractions with are, so listening to different accents helps you recognize the same word in more than one pronunciation.

they arethey'rethey're

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In many American accents, the form is more rhotic, so the r sound is strongIn many British accents, the form is less rhotic, so the r sound may be softer or absentIn careful speech, people may use the fuller form instead of the contraction

Accent differences in clearer be contractions

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
United States	they're	In many American accents, the form is more rhotic, so the r sound is strong.	They're here already.
United Kingdom	they're	In many British accents, the form is less rhotic, so the r sound may be softer or absent.	They're waiting outside.
Careful speech	they are	In careful speech, people may use the fuller form instead of the contraction.	They are ready to begin.

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