1011 - TO Sounds Like TUH

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.

Today, let’s talk about another tiny word that changes in natural American English: TO.

In everyday English conversation, to usually reduces to a quick “tuh” sound.

• I went to bed, sounds like I went tuh bed
• I need to study, sounds like I need tuh study.
• I walk to the station sounds like, I walk tuh the station

The OO vowel sound of to becomes the unstressed schwa sound ə
Like, Nice tuh meet you. I hafta leave. I went to work

Let’s practice: Repeat after me:

• I went to work
• They go to school
• I have tuh study

Now, you’re speaking like a native!

Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Speak Naturally in a Minute. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Build your vocabulary with my free Vocabulary Workshop
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signup

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com