Transcription
by Adroit Tutors

How To Pronounce “must”

must

function word
Strong form
Used in isolation, at the end of speech, or for emphasis or contrast.
UK
Phonemic
/mʌst/
Phonetic
[mʌst̚]
e.g. Yes, you must.
/jes.juˈmʌst/
US
Phonemic
/mʌst/
e.g. Yes, you must.
/jes.juˈmʌst/
Weak form, before a consonant
Used in connected speech, before a consonant (the /t/ is usually dropped).
UK
Phonemic
/məs/
Phonetic
[məs]
e.g. I must go.
/aɪ.məsˈɡəʊ/
US
Phonemic
/məs/
e.g. I must go.
/aɪ.məsˈɡoʊ/
Weak form, before a vowel
Used in connected speech, before a vowel.
UK
Phonemic
/məst/
Phonetic
[məst̚]
e.g. I must eat.
/aɪ.məstˈiːt/
US
Phonemic
/məst/
e.g. I must eat.
/aɪ.məstˈiːt/
Noun (something essential)
Used as a noun, with no weak form.
UK
Phonemic
/mʌst/
Phonetic
[mʌst̚]
e.g. Patience is a must.
/ˈpeɪ.ʃəns.ɪz.ə.mʌst/
US
Phonemic
/mʌst/
e.g. Patience is a must.
/ˈpeɪ.ʃəns.ɪz.ə.mʌst/

“must” 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 /mʌst/, and in American English it is /mʌst/. It is used in isolation, at the end of speech, or for emphasis or contrast.

Weak form, before a consonant. In British English it is /məs/, and in American English it is /məs/. It is used in connected speech, before a consonant (the /t/ is usually dropped).

Weak form, before a vowel. In British English it is /məst/, and in American English it is /məst/. It is used in connected speech, before a vowel.

Noun (something essential). In British English it is /mʌst/, and in American English it is /mʌst/. It is used as a noun, with no weak form.

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.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

something essential + -s
-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /s/ after a voiceless consonant.
UK
/mʌsts/
US
/mʌsts/

Questions About Must

How do you pronounce must in British English?

Strong form, /mʌst/. Weak form, before a consonant, /məs/. Weak form, before a vowel, /məst/. Noun (something essential), /mʌst/.

How do you pronounce must in American English?

Strong form, /mʌst/. Weak form, before a consonant, /məs/. Weak form, before a vowel, /məst/. Noun (something essential), /mʌst/.

What is the weak form of must?

The weak form of must is /məs/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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