Transitions & Blends

Speaking clearly means making sure your words flow smoothly without sounds getting jumbled or running into each other. Mastering transitions and blends will make your speech sound much more natural and fluent.

How to make it

1. For most sounds, relax your mouth parts (tongue, lips) briefly after one sound before moving to the next. This creates clear separation.
2. When a consonant and a vowel are made with different parts of the mouth, you can sometimes prepare for the vowel while still making the consonant. This is called coarticulation.
3. If a consonant and the following vowel are made with the same part of the mouth, always return to a relaxed position in between to avoid changing the consonant sound.

Watch out for

• Sounds running together: Make sure each sound has its own distinct moment. Don't rush or merge them into one unclear sound.
• Changing consonant sounds: If you prepare for a vowel too early when the consonant uses the same mouth part, the consonant might sound different than intended. Always relax first.

Words to try

• book, map, pen
• day, top, nice
• show, chat, jump

💡 Practicing these transitions will make your speech sound much more connected and natural!