You've been saying it your whole life. Or maybe you're just learning English and realizing that some of the most "basic" words are actually the ones that trip you up when you're speaking fast. Also is one of those tiny, invisible giants. It’s a four-letter word that serves as a bridge for almost every sentence we speak. But if you hit the vowel wrong or linger too long on the "l," you sound like a textbook rather than a person.
Language isn't just about sticking letters together. It's about rhythm. It's about how your tongue hits the roof of your mouth and whether your vocal cords are vibrating at the right millisecond. Most people think they know how to pronounce also, but once they record themselves, they realize they might be over-pronouncing it.
We need to talk about the "dark L." We need to talk about why the "a" isn't really an "a" at all. Honestly, English is a bit of a disaster when it comes to spelling-to-sound consistency, and "also" is a prime example of why you can't trust your eyes.
The Secret is the All-Important "AW" Sound
Stop thinking about the letter A. Seriously.
If you try to pronounce "also" with the "a" sound found in "apple" or "cat," you’re going to sound very strange. In most standard American and British dialects, that first vowel is a rounded, open sound. Linguists call this the open-mid back rounded vowel. In plain English? It’s the sound you make when you see a cute puppy: "Aw."
But here’s where it gets tricky.
Depending on where you live, that "aw" might be slightly different. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you might have the "cot-caught merger," where "cot" and "caught" sound identical. For you, the start of also is going to feel very flat. If you're in London, that "o" sound at the start is going to be much shorter and more "clipped."
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Try saying "All." Now say "So."
Now put them together, but don't pause. AL-SO.
The "l" in the middle isn't a "light L" like in the word "leaf." It’s a "dark L." This means the back of your tongue actually rises up toward your soft palate. If you don't do this, the word sounds thin. It lacks the "weight" that native speakers expect. You're basically making a tiny "uh" sound right before the L. It sounds like awl-so.
Why Your "S" Might Be Ruining the Flow
Let's talk about the transition. Moving from a dark L to a sharp S is a physical hurdle for your mouth. Your tongue has to move from the back of your throat (for the L) to the front of your teeth (for the S).
People who are learning English as a second language often struggle here. They might accidentally turn the S into a Z. Al-zo. Don't do that.
The S in also is unvoiced. That means your vocal cords should stop vibrating the second you finish the L sound. It should be a crisp, hissy sound. Like a snake. If you keep your throat "on," you get that buzzy Z sound which immediately marks you as a non-native speaker. It's a tiny detail, but your brain picks up on these micro-errors instantly.
Is it "AL-so" or "al-SO"?
Emphasis matters. In 99% of cases, the stress is on the first syllable. AL-so. If you put the stress on the second syllable, you sound like you're asking a question or like you're incredibly confused. The first syllable is longer, louder, and higher in pitch. The "so" at the end is like a quick little exit.
Regional Weirdness and Dialect Shifts
If you go to parts of the Southern United States, you might hear the "l" disappear entirely. It becomes something like aw-so. This is called L-vocalization. You’ll hear it in London too—Cockney speakers often turn that L into a "w" sound.
"I went to the store, and I aw-so bought some bread."
Technically, in "proper" Received Pronunciation or General American, this is considered incorrect. But in the real world? It's how millions of people talk.
Then you have the "o" at the end. In American English, we love our diphthongs. A diphthong is just a fancy way of saying two vowel sounds smashed together. When we say "so," we don't just say an "o." We actually end with a tiny "u" sound. S-oh-oo. If you just say a flat "o" like they do in Spanish or Italian, it sounds "short." To get the native flow, you have to let that final vowel glide a little bit. It's a tiny bit of extra effort that makes a massive difference in how natural you sound.
How to Practice Without Looking Crazy
You can't just read about how to pronounce also and expect to be an expert. Muscle memory is a real thing. Your tongue is a muscle, and it has "habits." You have to break the old habits and build new ones.
- The Shadowing Method. Find a podcast—something like The Daily or This American Life. Wait for them to say "also." Immediately repeat it. Try to match their pitch and their speed.
- The "Slow-Motion" Drill. Say the word as slowly as possible. Awwwww-llllll-sssss-ooooo. Feel where your tongue moves. Is it hitting your teeth? Is it hanging out in the middle of your mouth?
- The Whisper Test. Whisper the word. If the "s" doesn't sound loud and clear when you whisper, you're probably putting too much "voice" into it.
I've seen people spend months trying to master the "th" sound or the "r" sound, but they completely ignore words like "also" because they seem easy. That's a mistake. These high-frequency words are the ones that build your "accent profile" in a listener's mind.
Common Mistakes That Are Slowing You Down
Sometimes, people try to be too perfect.
They enunciate every single letter. They say "AL-LOW-SO." No. The "l" and the "s" should blend. There shouldn't be a gap. It’s a smooth slide from the back of the mouth to the front.
Another big one is the "o" being too short. Many speakers from Asia or Europe cut the "o" off too early. In English, final vowels tend to be a bit "lazy" and long. Let it breathe.
Think about the word "Although." It starts the same way. If you can say "although," you can say also. The "al" part is identical. If you're struggling, use "although" as a mental anchor.
Actionable Steps for Perfect Pronunciation
If you want to nail this, you need to stop overthinking and start doing.
- Record yourself today. Use your phone's voice memo app. Say this sentence: "I also wanted to go to the park."
- Listen back immediately. Does it sound like "all-so" or "al-zo"?
- Check the "L". If your "l" sounds like the one in "light," try to pull your tongue further back.
- Focus on the "Aw". Make sure you aren't using the "a" from "apple."
- Use it in context. Words don't exist in a vacuum. Practice saying "And also..." as a transition in your next conversation.
Mastering the word also isn't about being fancy. It's about being clear. It's about making sure your listeners aren't distracted by a clunky pronunciation so they can actually hear what you're saying. Start with the "aw," find that "dark L," and keep that "s" crisp. You've got this.