50 everyday phrases to sound naturalListen, repeat after the voice and copy the rhythm

How's it GOing?

Tip: "How's it" joins into one word, "HOWzit": the s of how's slides straight into it.

What have you been UP to?

Tip: "What have you" shrinks to "whatəvya", and the strong word is UP.

Meaning: What have you been doing lately?

Did you have a GOOD WEEKend?

Tip: "Did you" becomes "didja" (d + y = j), and "have a" sounds like "hava".

LONG time no SEE!

Tip: Four short words, but only LONG and SEE are strong, so say it in two beats: LONG-time-no-SEE.

CRAzy WEAther we're having, huh?

Tip: "We're having" is quick and quiet, and "huh?" goes up at the end, like a question.

Are you from aROUND HERE?

Tip: "Are you" becomes "arya", and "from around" links: "fromaROUND".

I've heard SO MUCH about you.

Tip: "About you" sounds like "abouchu" (t + y = ch).

So, what do you DO?

Tip: "What do you" melts into "whaddaya", and the stress goes on the last DO.

Meaning: What is your job?

It was GREAT CATCHing UP!

Tip: "Catching up" links: "catchin-gup", with the g sliding into up.

Meaning: Talking and hearing each other's news.

Anyway, I'll let you GO.

Tip: "Let you" becomes "letcha" (t + y = ch); the voice falls on GO.

Meaning: A friendly way to finish a conversation.

Do you have a MINute?

Tip: "Do you have a" is very fast, "dyuhava", so the only strong word is MINute.

I'll get BACK to you on THAT.

Tip: You don't hear the t in "get" because it stops before back: "ge' back". "To you" is short: "tuh-ya".

Meaning: I'll answer you later.

Let's touch BASE after LUNCH.

Tip: "Let's touch" runs together, and the t in "after" is soft, like a quick d: "adder".

Meaning: Let's talk briefly after lunch.

Can you SEND me that FILE?

Tip: "Can" is weak, "kən", and the d in "send me" almost disappears: "sen' me".

Sorry, I'm running a bit LATE.

Tip: "Running a bit" links into "runninabit", and the t of bit is barely there before LATE.

I'm not SURE I FOLlow.

Tip: Hold the t in "not" (don't pop it) and lift your voice on FOLlow.

Meaning: I don't understand what you mean.

Could we MOVE it to THURSday?

Tip: "Move it" links: "moovit", and "to" is a short "tə".

That WORKS for me.

Tip: "For" is weak, "fer", so the phrase sounds like "that WORKS fer me".

I'm SWAMPED right NOW.

Tip: "Swamped" ends in a t sound (swampt), and the t in "right" is held: "righ' now".

Meaning: I'm very busy.

THANKS for COVering for me.

Tip: Both "for"s are weak "fer": "THANKS fer COVering fer me".

Meaning: Thanks for doing my work while I was away.

Can I get a MEdium LATte?

Tip: "Can I" becomes "k'nai", and "get a" sounds like "gedda" (soft t).

For HERE or to GO?

Tip: "Or to" is quick and quiet, "er-tə"; the voice goes up on HERE and down on GO.

Meaning: Will you eat here or take it with you?

Could I get that with OAT milk?

Tip: "Could I" links into "cudai", and "with oat" joins: "wi-thoat".

I'm just LOOKing, thanks.

Tip: The t in "just" drops before a consonant: "jus' looking".

Meaning: I don't need help right now.

Do you have this in a MEdium?

Tip: "This in a" links into one smooth chain: "thi-si-na".

Can I just TAP my card?

Tip: "Can I just" is fast and light, so all the weight is on TAP.

Meaning: Pay by touching the card to the machine.

I'll GRAB a WAter too.

Tip: "Grab a" links: "gra-ba", and in North America "water" sounds like "wadder".

Is this on SALE?

Tip: "This on" links into "thi-son", and the voice rises on SALE.

Can I reTURN it if it doesn't FIT?

Tip: "Return it if it" is one chain, "returni-di-fit", with soft t's in the middle.

Keep the CHANGE.

Tip: Close your lips for the p in "keep", but don't let it pop; go straight to "the".

Hi, is this a GOOD TIME?

Tip: "This a" links into "thi-sa", and GOOD and TIME are both strong.

Sorry, you're BREAKing UP.

Tip: "You're" is weak, "yer", and "breaking up" links: "breakin-gup".

Meaning: I can't hear you well, the line is bad.

Could you say that aGAIN?

Tip: "Could you" becomes "cudja" (d + y = j), and "that again" links with a soft t: "tha-dagain".

Can I put you on HOLD for a SEC?

Tip: "Put you" becomes "putcha" (t + y = ch), and "for a" is just "fera".

Meaning: Can you wait for a moment?

I'm calling about my aPPOINTment.

Tip: "Calling about" links: "callin-gabout", and the strong part is POINT.

Let me just grab a PEN.

Tip: "Let me" becomes "lemme", and the t in "just" drops: "jus' grab".

What was your LAST name aGAIN?

Tip: The t in "last" drops before name: "las' name". "Again" goes up because you're checking.

I'll TEXT you the LINK.

Tip: "Text you" sounds like "texchu" (t + y = ch).

Sorry, I think I've got the WRONG NUMber.

Tip: Hold the t in "got" (don't pop it) before "the", and hit WRONG hard.

Talk to you LAter!

Tip: "Talk to you" is quick, "talk-tə-ya", and "later" has a soft t: "lader".

If you ASK me, it's WAY too exPENsive.

Tip: "If you ask me" links into "ifya-ASK-me"; put real weight on WAY to show a strong opinion.

I'm not so SURE about that.

Tip: "About that" is light: "abou' that", with the first t held.

Meaning: I don't really agree.

I see what you MEAN, but…

Tip: "What you" becomes "whatcha"; keep your voice up on "but", because more is coming.

To be HONest, I kind of LIKED it.

Tip: "Kind of" becomes "kinda", and your voice jumps up on LIKED.

That makes SENSE.

Tip: "Makes sense": the two s sounds join into one long s, "make-sense".

Meaning: I understand, it's logical.

I couldn't agree MORE.

Tip: The t in "couldn't" is a tiny stop in the throat, "cou'n'", and the voice lands on MORE.

Meaning: I agree completely.

It's not that BAD, actually.

Tip: Hold the t in "not" and "that", and "actually" is just three beats: "ak-shu-lee".

I'm on the FENCE about it.

Tip: "Fence about it" links into "fen-sa-bou-dit" (the t in about becomes a soft d).

Meaning: I can't decide yet.

You've got a POINT.

Tip: "Got a" sounds like "godda" (soft t), so it's "you've godda POINT".

Meaning: You are partly right.

HONestly, I'd go for the CHEAPer one.

Tip: The d in "I'd" is almost silent before go, and "for the" is a quick "fer the".

Meaning: I would choose the cheaper one.