How to pronounce always in American English
Americans pronounce always as AHL-wayz (/ˈɔlweɪz/). Stress falls on the first syllable — keep everything else short and quick.
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Why "always" sounds like AHL·wayz.
The "" at the end of "" flows directly into the vowel starting "" — the consonant migrates to the next word with no pause between. This is called the Consonant-to-Vowel Linking, what turns word-by-word reading into actual conversation. It comes out as AHL·wayz.
Hear "always" in the wild.
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Common pronunciation mistakes in American English.
The textbook way isn't wrong — it's just not how anyone actually says it.
Treating every L the same.
The L in "always" is a dark L — the back of the tongue rises toward the soft palate, adding a small "uh" quality before the L. Dark L adds a small schwa-like "uh" before the L. The back of the tongue lifts toward the soft palate.
Stressing the wrong syllable.
Stress falls on the first syllable, not the others. Stretch AHL — keep everything else short and quick.
Questions people ask about this.
How is "always" stressed in American English?
Is the American pronunciation of "always" different from British English?
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