How To Pronounce “us”

us

function word

Strong form

Used when emphasised or contrasted.

Phonemic

/ʌs/

Phonetic

[ʌs]

e.g. I said us, not them.

/aɪ.sedˈʌs.nɒt.ðem/

Phonemic

/ʌs/

e.g. I said us, not them.

/aɪ.sedˈʌs.nɑːt.ðem/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/əs/

Phonetic

[əs]

e.g. He told us a story.

/hi.təʊld.əs.əˈstɔː.ri/

Phonemic

/əs/

e.g. He told us a story.

/hi.toʊld.əs.əˈstɔːr.i/

Abbreviation (US, the United States)

Used as an abbreviation, spelt out.

Phonemic

/ˌjuːˈes/

Phonetic

[ˌjʷuːˈes]

e.g. He lives in the US.

/hi.lɪvz.ɪn.ðiˌjuːˈes/

Phonemic

/ˌjuːˈes/

e.g. He lives in the US.

/hi.lɪvz.ɪn.ðiˌjuːˈes/

“us” 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 /ʌs/, and in American English it is /ʌs/. It is used when emphasised or contrasted.

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

Abbreviation (US, the United States). In British English it is /ˌjuːˈes/, and in American English it is /ˌjuːˈes/. It is used as an abbreviation, spelt out.

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 Us

How do you pronounce us in British English?

Strong form, /ʌs/. Weak form, /əs/. Abbreviation (US, the United States), /ˌjuːˈes/.

How do you pronounce us in American English?

Strong form, /ʌs/. Weak form, /əs/. Abbreviation (US, the United States), /ˌjuːˈes/.

What is the weak form of us?

The weak form of us is /əs/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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