Pronunciation Reduction Them

I want them.

Them is commonly reduced to only em, producing the schwa sound. This is unlike them when it is produced on its own, producing a voiced th sound along with a short e and the consonant mm. Them, them, them. The short e sound also makes a schwa sound.

Here are a few examples of them reduced to the em sound:

• I want them. I want em.
• She needs them. She needs em.
• They love them. They love em.
• Walk with them. Walk with em.

Now that the sound is reduced to a simple em sound, the words before it will typically link with the reduced sound. Here are a few examples of connected speech linking to the reduced em sound:

• Give them to me. Gi vem to me.
• Do you need them? Do you nee dem?
• She gave them the keys. She gaa vem the keys.
• They took them. They too kem.