How to pronounce 'CAN' American English

"I can [kən] ([kn̩]) get that for you". Did you notice how the word "can" is pronounced in that sentence? I can [kən] ([kn̩]) get that for you. In this video we will go over how to pronounce the word "can" in everyday speech. The word "can" can be a noun, as in "is a trash can" or "the beans are from a can, they are not fresh", in this case, can [ˈkæn] is pronounced with the /æ/ as in bat [ˈbæt] vowel, so begins with the /k/ consonant sound, then the /æ/ vowel, /kæ/, /kæ/, and finally the /n/ consonant sound. [ˈkæn], [ˈkæn]. You might have noticed the /æ/ vowel does change somewhat in the word "can" this is because is followed by an "n", and any time this /æ/ vowel is followed by a nasal consonant, that would be "n" /n/, "m" /m/, or "ng" /ŋ/, it /kæə/, has an /ə/ vowel that sort of takes over the /æ/ vowel before the /n/, even though this /ə/ is not written in IPA. So /ˈkæən/, /ˈkæən/. So the word "can" as a noun is a content word, therefore is generally not reduced in a sentence. But the word "can" as a verb is generally an auxiliary verb or a helping verb, and these are function words, and they will reduce. So when is the verb "can" a helping verb?, let's look at two examples: Answering the question "Who can do this?". If I simply say "I can", "can" is the only verb, so it won't reduce /ˈkæn/, with the /æ/ sound. "I can". But if I want to say "I can do it" the word "can" now becomes [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] [kn̩], "I can do it", and that is because it's an auxiliary verb to the main verb "do", "I can", "I can do it", /ˈkæn/, [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] ([kn̩]), when it reduces, the word "can" is pronounced with the schwa sound, it is very fast, it is lower in pitch, [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] ([kn̩]), the /k/ consonant sound, schwa /ə/, /n/. [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] ([kn̩]). "I can do it". When you reduce the word "can" you want to make sure that it links to the words around it, you don't want gaps before or after "can" when it's pronounced [kən] ([kn̩]), "I can do it", we don't want that. "I can do it". "I can do it". We want it very linked to the words around it. Let's look at a few more examples: "I can bring food", [aɪkən], [aɪkən], [aɪkən], link it up to the word "I", "I can bring food", "We can stay the whole time" [wikən steɪ], [wikən steɪ], all links together. "We can stay the whole time". "They can have it", [kən] ([kn̩]), [kən] ([kn̩]), [ðeɪkən], "They can have it". "She can come with us". [ʃikən], [ʃikən], "She can come with us". "You can have my ticket". [kən], [kən], [jukən], [jukən]. "You can have my ticket". "Mary can do it herself". [kən], [kən], [ˈmɛəɹ ikən], [ˈmɛəɹ ikən]. "Mary can do it herself". "Put it in the garbage can". [ˈgɑɹ bɪʤ kæn] Did you notice the word "can" doesn't reduce here? I snuck in a case where the "can" is a noun, so is a content word. It won't reduce. "Put it in the garbage can". [ʤɑnkən], [ʤɑnkən]. "John can pick us up". Can is often an auxiliary verb within a sentence. In these cases make sure it does reduce. That's it. And thanks so much for using Rachel's English.