How To Pronounce “my”
my
function wordStrong form
UK
Phonemic
/maɪ/
Phonetic
[maɪ]
US
Phonemic
/maɪ/
Weak form
UK
Phonemic
/mɪ/ or /mə/
Phonetic
[mɪ]
US
Phonemic
/mə/
“my” 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 /maɪ/, and in American English it is /maɪ/.
Weak form. In British English it is /mɪ/ or /mə/, and in American English it is /mə/.
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.
Other Function Words With Weak Forms
Nearby Words
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