How to pronounce an in American English
Americans pronounce an as uhn (/ən/).
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Why "an" sounds like uhn.
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, a connected-speech trick that makes phrases flow. It comes out as uhn.
Hear "an" 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.
Pronouncing the first syllable too fully.
Don't pronounce the first syllable too fully. The unstressed syllable reduces to a schwa — the lazy "uh" sound — in casual speech.
Questions people ask about this.
Is the American pronunciation of "an" different from British English?
Stop reading about "an". Start saying it.
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