Why English Words Stick Together
English has a secret. Words don't live alone. They connect, blend, and flow together.
This creates listening problems for learners. But once you understand the pattern, everything becomes clearer.
The Liaison Effect
When a word ends with a consonant and the next word starts with a vowel, they link together.
This is called liaison. It happens automatically in natural speech.
Common Liaison Patterns
- Consonant + Vowel
"an apple" = a-napple
"pick it up" = pi-cki-tup
"turn off" = tur-noff
- Multiple Word Chains
"give it a try" = gi-vi-ta-try
"put it on" = pu-ti-ton
"take it easy" = ta-ki-tea-sy
The Coffee Shop Test
Next time you hear English, listen for: "a cup of coffee"
It sounds like: "a-cu-pof-coffee"
Four words become one flowing sound.
Why This Matters
Without understanding liaison, you miss word boundaries.
"I need an answer" might sound like "I need a nanswer."
You know both "an" and "answer." But the connection confuses you.
Training Strategy
Practice identifying where words actually separate.
Listen to: "pick it up"
Break it down: pick + it + up
Notice the connections: pi-cki-tup
The Rhythm Rule
English flows like music. Stressed words stay clear. Unstressed words connect and reduce.
"GIVE it to ME" = gi-vi-tu-ME
Building Fluency
Don't fight the connections. Embrace them.
English speakers expect words to flow together. When you understand this pattern, listening becomes natural.
Practice with common phrases. Your ear will adapt quickly.