How to pronounce "ask them" in English — Connected Speech Guide (IPA /ˈæskðəm/)

How native English speakers pronounce "ask them" (IPA /ˈæskðəm/) — connected speech rule, example sentences, and audio for GA and RP. Free. them→/ðəm/ weak; h-less

ask them pronunciation (IPA /ˈæskðəm/) — Elision

What happens in this phrase

them→/ðəm/ weak; h-less

Example sentences

I'll ask them later.
Let's ask them first.
Please ask them about it.
We should ask them.

Common mistakes by native language

Japanese speakers

Mistake: Pronouncing it as "ASUKU ZEMU" with epenthetic vowel and full [ðɛm].

Why: Katakana English adds vowels and preserves each word as separate.

Fix: The k of "ask" links to the schwa of "them" (reduced): [ˈæskˈðəm] or in fast speech [ˈæskˈəm] with the [ð] elided. Say "askum" as one word.

Korean speakers

Mistake: Producing full [ðɛm] and syllable break before "them".

Why: Korean has no [ð] sound and prosody keeps boundaries clean.

Fix: "Them" reduces to [ðəm] or just [əm] in unstressed positions. Full: [ˈæskˈðəm]; reduced: [ˈæskˈəm]. In very fast speech, sounds like "askum".

Spanish speakers

Mistake: Adding initial [e] before "ask", or producing full Spanish-style [d] for the [ð].

Why: Spanish avoids initial sk-clusters and has no [ð] as a distinct phoneme.

Fix: "Ask" starts with a clean [æ] (no epenthetic e). "Them" uses [ð] (voiced interdental) but often reduces to just [əm]: [ˈæskˈðəm] or [ˈæskˈəm].

Similar phrase patterns

tell them — [ð]-reduction on "them": [ˈtɛlˈðəm] or [ˈtɛlˈəm]. Same reduction of unstressed "them".
get them — flap-t + them-reduction: [ˈɡɛɾəm]. The t flaps and "them" fully reduces to [əm].
ask her — h-elision + verb-linking: [ˈæskər]. Similar verb + pronoun structure with different reduction (h-elision instead of ð-reduction).

Practice sentences

Ask them if they want to join us. (polite inquiry)
You should just ask them directly. (communication advice)
I don't want to ask them for help again. (reluctant hesitation)
Ask them nicely and they might agree. (strategic approach)
Did you ask them about the schedule? (verification question)

Notes

"Ask them" illustrates a subtle reduction pattern: the pronoun "them" is one of English's most heavily reduced function words in unstressed positions. In slow careful speech: [ˈæsk ˈðɛm]. In normal speech: [ˈæskˈðəm]. In fast casual speech: [ˈæskˈəm] — the [ð] elides entirely, leaving just [əm], and the whole phrase sounds like "askum". This is not sloppy; it's the default in every register except emphasis. The same pattern applies broadly: "tell them" → [ˈtɛlˈəm], "get them" → [ˈɡɛɾəm], "give them" → [ˈɡɪvəm], "put them" → [ˈpʊɾəm]. Learners who preserve the full [ðɛm] sound noticeably formal; getting the [əm] reduction right is a key fluency marker. The [ð] only survives in stressed positions: "THEM, not us" would keep the [ð] as an emphasis marker.