How To Pronounce “him”

him

function word

Strong form

Used when emphasised or contrasted.

Phonemic

/hɪm/

Phonetic

[hɪ̃m]

e.g. I said him, not her.

/aɪ.sedˈhɪm.nɒt.hɜː/

Phonemic

/hɪm/

e.g. I said him, not her.

/aɪ.sedˈhɪm.nɑːt.hɝː/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/ɪm/

Phonetic

[ɪ̃m]

e.g. I told him to go.

/aɪ.təʊld.ɪm.təˈɡəʊ/

Phonemic

/ɪm/

e.g. I told him to go.

/aɪ.toʊld.ɪm.təˈɡoʊ/

“him” is a function word, so it has more than one pronunciation. In normal connected speech the weak form is usual. The strong form is used when the word is stressed, said on its own or at the end of a phrase.

Strong form. In British English it is /hɪm/, and in American English it is /hɪm/. It is used when emphasised or contrasted.

Weak form. In British English it is /ɪm/, and in American English it is /ɪm/. It is used in connected speech.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Questions About Him

How do you pronounce him in British English?

Strong form, /hɪm/. Weak form, /ɪm/.

How do you pronounce him in American English?

Strong form, /hɪm/. Weak form, /ɪm/.

What is the weak form of him?

The weak form of him is /ɪm/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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