them → 'em | Elision

Q: How do native English speakers say "them"?

Native speakers reduce "them" to "'em" (/əm/) in natural speech. The objective case of 'they', referring to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.

Q: What is the connected speech form of "them"?

"them" becomes "'em" — a elision pattern. When 'them' is unstressed in natural speech, the 'th' sound at the beginning often disappears, leaving just the vowel and 'm' sound. This is called elision and happens frequently in spoken English.

them → 'em /əm/ Elision

The objective case of 'they', referring to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.

When 'them' is unstressed in natural speech, the 'th' sound at the beginning often disappears, leaving just the vowel and 'm' sound. This is called elision and happens frequently in spoken English.

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Step 1 · Listen

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Step 2 · Reveal

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STANDARD FORM → REDUCED FORM

them → 'em

/əm/

The objective case of 'they', referring to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.

When 'them' is unstressed in natural speech, the 'th' sound at the beginning often disappears, leaving just the vowel and 'm' sound. This is called elision and happens frequently in spoken English.

Step 3 · Context

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Example 1

I saw 'em yesterday at the park.

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Example 2

Can you give 'em to me?

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Example 3

We need to tell 'em the news soon.

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Example 4

Just finish 'em up and send 'em over.

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Example 5

Don't worry about 'em, they'll be fine.

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Step 4 · Record

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Step 5 · AI Analysis

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Step 6 · Result

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them → 'em