Words with Dropped Syllables

In many common 3-syllable words, the second syllable is dropped in spoken American English. Most American speakers do not pronounce these syllables when they speak.

Read the words in the chart below and drop the syllable as indicated in the second column. If you can remember to drop these syllables when you speak, your speech will sound much more natural.

Practice saying these words aloud, then click below to hear the correct pronunciation.

                        Word                         Dropped syllable

                        aspirin                            as-prin
                       average                          av-rage                                                              Barbara                           Bar-bra
                        business                         bus-ness
                        camera                           cam-ra
                        different                         dif-rent