How to pronounce "when you" in English — Connected Speech Guide (IPA /ˈwɛɲu/)

How native English speakers pronounce "when you" (IPA /ˈwɛɲu/) — connected speech rule, example sentences, and audio for GA and RP. Free. n+y→/ɲ/

when you pronunciation (IPA /ˈwɛɲu/) — Assimilation

What happens in this phrase

n+y→/ɲ/

Example sentences

Call me when you arrive.
I'll wait when you finish.
Smile when you can.
Leave when you like.

Common mistakes by native language

Japanese speakers

Mistake: Pronouncing it as "WEN YU" with clear syllable break and full [ju:] vowel.

Why: Katakana English preserves each word.

Fix: The n of "when" links smoothly to the y of "you", and "you" reduces to schwa: [wɛnˈjə]. Note: unlike d+y or t+y, n+y does NOT coalesce — they stay as separate sounds.

Korean speakers

Mistake: Producing full [ju:] and syllable break.

Why: Korean maintains vowel qualities.

Fix: n + y stays as [n + j] (no coalescence) and "you" reduces to [jə]: [wɛnˈjə]. Same non-fusion as "can you" [kənˈjə].

Spanish speakers

Mistake: Producing Spanish [j] with friction, or preserving full [ju:].

Why: Spanish [j] is stronger; Spanish preserves vowels.

Fix: English [j] is light and glides smoothly: [wɛnˈjə]. Trust the schwa reduction on "you".

Similar phrase patterns

can you — n + y non-coalescence: [kənˈjə]. Same n+y pattern — never fuses to [nʃ] or similar.
did you — d + y → [dʒ] (contrast): [ˈdɪdʒə]. Contrast: alveolar stops (d/t) fuse with y, alveolar nasal (n) does not.
and you — and-reduction + y-linking: [ənˈjə] or [ənˈju]. Very common phrase — question return after being asked.

Practice sentences

Call me when you get home. (arrival check-in)
Let me know when you're ready. (cooperative timing)
When you finish, we can start. (sequence coordination)
When you have time, let's talk. (polite scheduling)
When you were a kid, what did you want to be? (reflective question)

Notes

"When you" is a very common temporal-clause opener in English. Phonologically it illustrates the important asymmetry: **alveolar stops (d, t) coalesce with following y, but alveolar nasal (n) does not**. So "did you" fuses to [ˈdɪdʒə] but "when you" stays as [wɛnˈjə] with two separate consonants. The n simply links to the following y-glide without fusing. This is a systematic phonological rule based on articulatory compatibility: the tongue can smoothly transition from n to y (both alveolar/palatal region) without needing to merge. Understanding this asymmetry helps learners produce the correct sound for each function-word combination. "When you", "can you", "then you", "and you" all share the n + y non-coalescence pattern; "did you", "got you", "would you" all show the d/t + y coalescence.