How to pronounce "such as" in English — Connected Speech Guide (IPA /ˈsʌtʃəz/)

How native English speakers pronounce "such as" (IPA /ˈsʌtʃəz/) — connected speech rule, example sentences, and audio for GA and RP. Free. as→/əz/ links

such as pronunciation (IPA /ˈsʌtʃəz/) — Linking

What happens in this phrase

as→/əz/ links

Example sentences

Bring fruit, such as apples.
Pick a color such as blue.
Try a sport such as tennis.
Use a tool such as a hammer.

Common mistakes by native language

Japanese speakers

Mistake: Pronouncing "as" with its full vowel [æz], as if reading it in isolation: "SATCHI ASU".

Why: Katakana English treats function words like content words, keeping their dictionary-form vowel instead of reducing it in connected speech.

Fix: Link "such" straight into a reduced "as": [ˈsʌtʃəz]. The final ch of "such" glides onto the weak schwa vowel of "as", and the z is soft, almost swallowed. Practice it as one word: "suchez".

Korean speakers

Mistake: Inserting a short pause between "such" and "as", pronouncing each with equal stress.

Why: Korean tends to keep grammatical particles and content words rhythmically distinct, so learners default to clear word-by-word delivery.

Fix: Fuse the two words with zero gap: [ˈsʌtʃəz]. "Such" carries all the stress; "as" is just a light trailing sound that links directly onto it, almost like a suffix.

Chinese speakers

Mistake: Giving "as" a clear, separate syllable with its full vowel quality, matching the even rhythm of the native language.

Why: Syllable-timed rhythm in Mandarin and Cantonese assigns similar prominence to each syllable, unlike English's habit of collapsing unstressed function words.

Fix: Reduce "as" almost to nothing and let it link onto "such": [ˈsʌtʃəz]. Say the phrase in a single breath with a fast, quiet tail — the listing examples that follow "such as" should get more energy than "such as" itself.

Similar phrase patterns

such-as-apples (example list) — linking + weak vowel reduction on a preposition: The same [əz] reduction pattern shows up in "such as apples", where "as" reduces even further before linking into the next vowel.
his eyes — final consonant links directly onto a vowel-initial word: Compare the general linking mechanism: a word-final consonant glides onto the next word's vowel, exactly as "such" glides into "as".
none of us — of → [ə] reduction with linking: Another preposition/particle that reduces heavily in casual speech, showing the same tendency to shrink grammatical connector words.

Practice sentences

Bring fruit, such as apples or bananas. (giving examples)
Pick a color such as blue or green. (offering choices)
Try a sport such as tennis or swimming. (suggesting activities)
Use a tool such as a hammer or a wrench. (listing equipment)
We need supplies such as paper, pens, and folders. (listing items)

Notes

"Such as" is a high-frequency listing connector, used to introduce examples in both spoken and written English, and it reduces heavily in fluent speech to [ˈsʌtʃəz]. Because "such" and "as" have identical vowels in GA and RP (this is one of the rare connected-speech pairs where the accents fully agree), the phrase is a good entry point for practicing linking before tackling accent-specific patterns elsewhere in the drill set. The key mechanic is simple but often skipped by learners: the final consonant sound of "such" ([tʃ]) links directly onto the reduced vowel of "as", and "as" itself shrinks from its full form [æz] to an unstressed [əz]. Because "such as" is a function phrase that merely introduces the real content (the examples that follow), native speakers rush through it, saving their vocal energy and clarity for the nouns that come next, such as "apples" or "tennis" in the practice sentences below.