Linking sounds: why “pick it up” sounds like “pi-ki-tup”
Short answer: In natural speech, English words run together. When a word ends in a consonant and the next word starts with a vowel, the consonant moves across and joins the next word: pick it up sounds like “pi-ki-tup”. Linking makes speech smooth and is one reason fast English is hard to understand. Practice linking, and you will say and hear it more easily.
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At a glance
| Written | Sounds like | Link |
|---|---|---|
| pick it up | pi-ki-tup | k links to it, t links to up |
| an apple | a-napple | n links to apple |
| turn off | tur-noff | n links to off |
| not at all | no-ta-tall | t links to at, t links to all |
| far away | fa-raway | r links to away |
How to make the sound
- Find a word that ends in a consonant sound, followed by a word that starts with a vowel sound.
- Move the final consonant to the start of the next word: turn off → tur-noff.
- Say the phrase smoothly without a pause, as one word.
- Link at the sound level, not the spelling level: far away links /r/ to away.
Examples in sentences
- Turn off the light.
turn off: /tɝ-nɔf/. - Pick it up, please.
pick it up: /pɪ-kɪ-tʌp/. - She has an apple.
an apple: /ə-næpəl/. - I am not at all tired.
not at all: /nɑ-tæ-tɔl/. - He lives far away.
far away: /fɑ-rəweɪ/. - Come in and sit down.
come in: /kʌ-mɪn/. - Take it easy.
take it: /teɪ-kɪt/. - Check it out.
check it out: /tʃɛ-kɪ-taʊt/.
Common problems
- Pausing between words: Saying each word separately sounds slow and robotic, and makes it harder to link.
- Linking spelling, not sound: Link sounds, not letters: the silent e in make it does not stop the link /meɪ-kɪt/.
- Adding extra sounds: Do not add a vowel between words. Just move the consonant.
For Vietnamese speakers
- Vietnamese syllables are usually separate, with clear boundaries. English links final consonants to the next vowel, so practice moving the consonant.
Linked and not linked
When the next word starts with a consonant, there is usually no consonant-vowel link.
| Phrase | Link? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| pick it up | yes | k + it; t + up |
| pick them up | less | t + th is a consonant |
| turn off | yes | n + off |
| turn left | no | n + l is consonant + consonant |
Check yourself
- How does “turn off” sound?
Show the answer
tur-noff n links to off.
- Does “an apple” link?
Show the answer
Yes: a-napple. n links to the vowel in apple.
- What is linking?
Show the answer
Moving a final consonant to the next word that starts with a vowel. It makes the phrase smooth.
Questions
Is linking only for fast speech?
It happens in normal and fast speech. In slow, careful speech, you may separate words, but linking is still natural.
Does linking change the spelling?
No. Linking is only about sound. The spelling stays the same.
How can I practice linking?
Say phrases slowly first, then speed up without pausing: turn off, pick it up, not at all.
More lessons in this part
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Sentence Pronunciation. See also the English pronunciation guide. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30