How To Pronounce “will”

will

function word

Strong form

Used in isolation, at the end of speech, or for emphasis or contrast.

Phonemic

/wɪl/

Phonetic

[wɪɫ]

e.g. Yes, I will.

/jes.aɪˈwɪl/

Phonemic

/wɪl/

e.g. Yes, I will.

/jes.aɪˈwɪl/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/wəl/or/əl/

Phonetic

[wəɫ]

e.g. I will go.

/aɪ.wəlˈɡəʊ/

Phonemic

/wəl/

e.g. I will go.

/aɪ.wəlˈɡoʊ/

Noun (a legal document, or strength of mind)

Used as a noun, with no weak form.

Phonemic

/wɪl/

Phonetic

[wɪɫ]

e.g. She wrote a will.

/ʃi.rəʊt.əˈwɪl/

Phonemic

/wɪl/

e.g. She wrote a will.

/ʃi.roʊt.əˈwɪl/

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

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

Noun (a legal document, or strength of mind). In British English it is /wɪl/, and in American English it is /wɪl/. 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

a legal document, or strength of mind + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/wɪlz/

Questions About Will

How do you pronounce will in British English?

Strong form, /wɪl/. Weak form, /wəl/ or /əl/. Noun (a legal document, or strength of mind), /wɪl/.

How do you pronounce will in American English?

Strong form, /wɪl/. Weak form, /wəl/. Noun (a legal document, or strength of mind), /wɪl/.

What is the weak form of will?

The weak form of will is /wəl/ or /əl/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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