You've studied English for years. You know the grammar. You understand written texts perfectly. But when a native speaker talks at normal speed, it sounds like one long, incomprehensible blur.
Sound familiar? You're not alone. This is the connected speech problem, and it affects almost every Spanish speaker learning English.
The issue isn't your vocabulary or listening skills. It's that English changes dramatically when spoken naturally. Words connect, sounds disappear, and syllables merge in ways that textbooks rarely teach.
Why English Sounds Like a Blur
In Spanish, each word tends to maintain its boundaries clearly. "Voy a comer" has distinct word separations.
In English, words flow into each other. "I'm going to eat" becomes something like "I'm gonna eat" or even "ahmgənəˈiːt" in fast speech. Native speakers don't pause between words; they link them together.
The Three Types of Connected Speech
- Linking: Connecting the end of one word to the beginning of the next
- Assimilation: Sounds changing to match neighboring sounds
- Elision: Sounds disappearing entirely
Let's master each one.
Linking: The Most Important Pattern
Linking happens when the end of one word connects smoothly to the beginning of the next. There are three main types:
1. Consonant-to-Vowel Linking (C→V)
When a word ends in a consonant and the next word starts with a vowel, they connect as if they were one word.
Examples:
The rule: The final consonant "jumps" to the next word. "turn it" becomes "tur-nit."
2. Vowel-to-Vowel Linking (V→V)
When one word ends with a vowel and the next begins with a vowel, English adds a small connecting sound.
With /w/ sound (after /uː/, /oʊ/, /aʊ/):
With /j/ sound (after /iː/, /eɪ/, /aɪ/, /ɔɪ/):
3. Consonant-to-Consonant Linking (C→C)
When the same or similar consonants meet, they blend into one longer sound.
Assimilation: When Sounds Change
Sometimes sounds change to become more like the sounds next to them. This makes speech faster and smoother.
Common Assimilation Patterns
/n/ becomes /m/ before /p/, /b/, /m/:
/n/ becomes /ŋ/ before /k/, /g/:
/d/ + /j/ becomes /dʒ/ (like "j"):
/t/ + /j/ becomes /tʃ/ (like "ch"):
Elision: When Sounds Disappear
In fast speech, some sounds simply vanish. This is called elision.
Common Elision Patterns
/t/ and /d/ disappear between consonants:
/h/ disappears in unstressed pronouns:
Practice Sentences
Try reading these sentences with connected speech. Focus on linking words together smoothly:
- "Turn it off and put it away." → "Tur-ni-toff an pu-ti-taway"
- "Did you eat an apple?" → "Didjoo ee-ta-napple?"
- "What are you going to do?" → "Wha-tar-ya gonna do?"
- "Tell him I'll call him back." → "Tellim I'll callim back"
- "She's been in Italy for a week." → "She's bee-ni-nItaly for-a-week"
Why This Matters for Spanish Speakers
Spanish is a syllable-timed language: each syllable gets roughly equal time and stress.
English is a stress-timed language: stressed syllables are longer, and unstressed syllables get squeezed between them. This creates the linking patterns above.
When Spanish speakers expect clear word boundaries (like in Spanish), they can't parse fast English speech. Learning to expect and produce connected speech solves this problem.
How to Practice
Step 1: Listen for Linking
Watch English videos with subtitles. Notice how speakers blur words together. Mark where linking happens.
Step 2: Shadow Practice
Listen to a short audio clip. Pause. Repeat exactly what you heard, including the linking. Match the rhythm.
Step 3: Record Yourself
Record yourself reading sentences. Compare to native speakers. Are you linking? Are your unstressed syllables short enough?
Step 4: Slow Down, Then Speed Up
Practice linking slowly at first. "Turn... it... off" → "Turn-it... off" → "Turnitoff". Gradually increase speed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-pronouncing every word: "I am going to eat" sounds robotic. Use linking.
- Adding Spanish vowel sounds: Don't say "tur-uh-nit" for "turn it". Keep it smooth.
- Equal stress on all syllables: English has rhythm. Stress content words, reduce function words.
Key Takeaways
- Native English speakers link words together constantly
- Consonant-to-vowel linking is the most common pattern ("turn it" → "tur-nit")
- Sounds change (assimilation) and disappear (elision) in natural speech
- Learning connected speech improves both listening comprehension AND speaking fluency
- Practice with shadowing: listen, pause, repeat with the same rhythm
Ready to practice more? Check out our related guide on weak forms and reductions to learn how words like "to," "for," and "can" change in natural speech.