Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda: Reduced Speech in English
Have you ever listened to a native English speaker and thought, “Why are they speaking so quickly? I can’t understand anything they’re saying.” It’s natural to feel that way when you listen to fluent English speakers. One of the reasons it feels that way is because of reduced speech.
What is reduced speech? It’s when a speaker reduces or eliminates sounds from words or phrases. Most languages have reduced forms that are commonly used with speakers of those languages.
Part of becoming a fluent speaker in English is being able to recognize and produced reduced speech forms. I have included a list of commonly reduced forms in English.
Practice these speech reductions by saying them out loud.
Reduced Speech Forms
because = cuz
I went to sleep early cuz I was tired.
bet you = betcha
I betcha never thought it would snow today.
doing = doin’
I wonder what Michelle is doin‘ after school.
want to = wanna
Do you wanna build a snowman?
want a = wanna
I wanna glass of lemonade.
wants to = wansta
He wansta run a quicker mile
going to = gonna
We’re gonna go to the movie after dinner.
got to = gotta
I gotta go to the laundry mat soon.
have to = hafta
I realize that I haftastart eating better.
has to = hasta
My dog hasta go on a walk every day.
don’t know = dunno
I dunno how I did on that test.
kind of = kinda
I’m kinda hungry. Can we eat soon?
lot of = lotta
I have a lotta shoes. I don’t need to buy any more.
could have = coulda / couldav
He coulda ridden his bike today, if it hadn’t been raining.
should have = shoulda / shouldav
I shoulda called you when I was in your neighborhood.
would have = woulda / wouldav
We woulda been on time if there hadn’t had been a traffic jam.
might have = mighta / mightav
I mighta misspoken when I said we would leave soon.
must have = musta / mustav
He musta thought the meeting was at an earlier time.
give me = gimme
Can you gimme my backpack?
what do you = whaddaya
Whaddaya wanna do after school?
Once you practice these speech reductions by saying them out loud, comment below and let me know how it went.