Have you ever heard someone say 'bout time! or I left 'cause I was tired and wondered which word they dropped? They didn't drop a word; they dropped the first vowel of one. The linguistic term is aphesis, and it is a very predictable feature of casual American (and British) English.
The Rule
When a word begins with an unstressed vowel, and that word is not at the start of a clause, the initial vowel often gets chopped off in casual speech. What remains attaches to the previous word.
- about → 'bout /baʊt/
- because → 'cause /kəz/
- around → 'round /raʊnd/
- them → 'em /əm/
- another → 'nother /ˈnʌðər/
- excuse → 'scuse /skjuːz/
Practice: Aphesis Words
When to Avoid Aphesis
Aphetic forms are informal. Use them in conversation, texting, and music lyrics, but avoid them in:
- Formal writing (essays, business emails, academic papers).
- Job interviews or professional presentations.
- Any situation where clarity is paramount.
Also, don't start a sentence with an aphetic form: 'Cause I was late is fine in the middle of speech but awkward at the start.
Writing It Down
When an aphetic form appears in writing, native writers mark the missing vowel with an apostrophe: 'bout, 'cause, 'em. This tells the reader the pronunciation is informal.
Why This Matters
Aphesis is a listening trap. If you don't know 'em is them, a sentence like Tell 'em I'm coming sounds like nonsense. Train your ear to restore the missing vowel mentally.
Practice Tip
Watch a casual American sitcom with subtitles. Every time the subtitle says about, because, around, them, another, or excuse, listen carefully to whether the actor actually said the initial vowel. You'll be surprised how often it's gone.