How To Understand Native English Speakers: Shortened Words

Hi. Welcome to www.engvid.com. I'm Adam. In today's video, I want to help you

understand native-English speakers. Okay? And one of the things you need to

understand about the way native-English speakers speak is that they like to

shorten words. Okay? They always like to take shortcuts. Now, I am sure that if

you pay attention to your own language and to speakers of your language, this

is something that most people do in their native language. Okay? But when

you're trying to learn a new language, sometimes it's very difficult to catch

the situation or the context, because certain words have been shortened, and

you don't know what they mean in terms of their full meaning. Okay? So, we're

going to look at a few of these. Now, the main thing I want to point out is

that it's important for you to understand these words, but don't try to

use them yet. Okay? Once you get into a more advanced level of English, and once

you're starting to get a little bit closer to fluency, then you start using

these words in natural speech. Okay? Now, the main thing to remember, also,

is that these are the sorts of things you will not hear, or you will not learn

about in textbooks in your ESL classes, or your English classes at school.

These... because these are street words; these are... this is the way people

speak naturally on the street, so it's important to understand what these words

mean. For example: "cas". So, "cas" — the "s" — is... this is the phonetic

spelling. If you know the word: "measure"... if you know how to

pronounce the word: "measure" — this "s" is the same sound: "cas". And what does

it mean? It means casual. Okay? So, like, if you're talking about a party:

-"Oh, how should...? What should I dress?" -"Oh, it's cas. Don't worry.

Don't dress... don't dress up. It's cas". And if you're going to... you want

to go for dinner, like, you ask a friend, like, of the opposite sex: "Do

you want to go for dinner sometime?" And she says or he says: -"Oh, you know...

I'm not really interested." -"Oh, don't worry. Just cas. A cas dinner", like,

nothing implied; no alternative meaning — it's "casual".

Now, again, and this is very, very common: "cause". "Cause", "cuz", it

depends. Some people say it: "cause"; some people will say it: "cuz" — it

depends how fast they're speaking. Basically means: "because". -"Why didn't

you come?" -"Oh, because I was tired. Cause I was... cause I was". If you hear

it: "cause I was"... this is what it sounds like: "cause I was". And you're

sitting there, going: "Cause I was, cause I was. Is that English? What? What

does that mean? I don't know." And you're getting very confused. "Cause I

was" and you have to break it up, and understand that "cause" is just a

shortened form of "because". Now, it's gotten to the point, these... these

words are so commonly used that when somebody says: "because" — they're...

they want to emphasize something; they want to point out the reason. So, you

have to pay attention. -"Why didn't you come?" -"Oh, cause I was tired." -"Why

didn't you come?" -"Because I was tired". So, I want you to understand:

"This is the reason; don't ask me again", etcetera. Okay? So, "cause I

was". "Comfy". Now, some... some English learners have enough of a hard time with

this word: "Comfortable". But if you're not too comfortable with the word

"comfortable", just say: "comfy". Okay? -"How's the chair?" -"Oh, it's very

comfy." -"How's the...? How's the atmosphere?" -"Oh, it's a very comfy

atmosphere". Your house is very "comfy". Okay? Very "comfy"; very "comfortable",

etcetera. Very commonly-used word. -"How's the food?" -"Oh, it's delish".

Now, when you say: "delish", it basically means "delicious". "Oh, that

restaurant was so delish". Right? So, we use it as... again, it's a little bit of

slang, but it's a little bit of emphasize how delicious something was.

It's so delicious that we're playful with it. Right? So, "delish". Sometimes

you'll hear: "It was deelish". Almost, like, two different words: "deelish".

And you throw it away on the "lish" to give it a little bit more emphasis.

"Congrats". -"Oh, I just passed my test." -"Oh, congrats". And sometimes I

say that to students, and they look at me, like: -"What?" -"Congratulations".

But "congratulations" — that's a very long word; too many syllables, so I just

want to shorten it to two syllable... two syllables. "Congrats. Good job. Good

for you." Okay? "Legit". "Legit" is short for "legitimate". So, when you...

when you say something or someone is "legit", it means true, or trustworthy.

Right? -"So, did you hear the news about the president?" -"Yeah, I'm not sure if

it's very legit. I'm not sure if it's true. I'm not sure if I can believe it

or trust it." And if you talk about a person: "Do you know...? Have you met

Bill? Like, I'm not sure about him." -"Oh, don't worry; he's legit", means

he's true. He is what he says he is. You can trust his word. He's not trying to

lie to you, or to con you, etcetera. And if something... now, in a bit more slang

way, "legit" means just very good. Okay? "That music is legit", or "That band is

legit", means they're the real thing; they're really good. "Faves" means

"favourites". Notice I'm Canadian, so I use the "u"; if you're American, you

don't use the "u". "Faves". So, those are like... -"What did you think of that

band?" -"Oh, that... they're one of my faves." Right? "One of my faves". "One

of my faves" — one of my favourites; just shortened. And you're... now you're

asking yourself: "Well, why do people shorten all these words?" Just because

they're easier to say, and they flow much more nicely in spoken English.

Don't use any of these in written English; way too casual in any

situation. Now, if you're texting with your friend, by all means; otherwise,

write out the full word.

Let's look at a few words. This one you've probably heard; you may have even

used. "Max" means "maximum". So, the... the room holds ten people max; or the

class size is twelve max — means "maximum"; not more than whatever the

number is. "Meds" means "medications". Now, you'll often hear this in the

context of... of a joke or even an insult about somebody. -"What's up with

Bill?" -"Oh, he's... I think maybe he's off his meds". So, some people who are a

little bit bipolar or have too much... or too hyper or too depressed — they

take medications to help them with their condition. So, if you say someone is

"off their meds" — you're saying there's something a little bit wrong with them

because they didn't take their medicine to fix whatever the problem is. So,

"meds" — "medications", and it could also be in a good context. "I need to go

to the pharmacy. I need to pick up my meds." Right? It's just short for

"medications" because, again, too long; short. "Sec" means "second", as in time.

And we often say: "Just a sec". Okay? -"Can you give me a hand?" -"Yeah, just

a sec" means... "just a sec" means: wait one second. It's not, obviously... one

second is one. No. It just means: "Wait a short time, and I will come and help

you." Right? "Just a minute", "Just a sec". "Minute" we don't reduce; "second"

we do. "Just a sec". Okay? "Slow mo" — "slow motion". So, again, this is

especially if you're watching sports, and you miss the goal, and you want to

see how the goal was scored. Don't worry; they're gonna show it in "slow

mo" anyway. Or if you're watching, like the... used to be a TV show called:

"Baywatch", and you had all these guys and girls running on the beach in their

bikinis and swim trunks. And all the scenes were in slow mo just to show off

all their bodies. It was kind of silly, but funny. Anyways, "slow mo" — "slow

"Dunno". -"What time is it?" -"Dunno". "Dunno?" What is "dunno"? Never heard

motion".

this word. "I don't know". "Don't know" squeezed. It's the same as "want to" —

"wanna"; "going to" — "gunna"; "don't know" — "dunno". So, we like to squeeze

things together; sometimes more than one word squeezed into one. But, again,

"don't know", because you have the "n" sound here, and you have the "n" sound —

anyways, you would drop the "t" to connect the two words: "don't know" —

the "t" is gone. So, "don't know" — "dunno" just said... spoken quickly,

sounds like one word for two. "Foreal". Okay? This basically means: "For real".

And it's usually said in the context of, like: "Wow, that's something

unbelievable". -"So, Jim just got fired." -"Foreal?" Foreal, like: "For

real? Are you telling me the truth? Really?" But "foreal" is a bit more

slang; a little bit more for younger people — the way they speak. Instead of

saying: "Really?" they'll say: "Foreal? Foreal?" And they'll squeeze the words.

And, again, you have the "r" and the "r" — "For real" — "Foreal", squeezed

quickly. And this one I'm sure everybody by now, if you've watched American

television or movies: "Wassup?" Okay? Now, it used to be a very common

expression. "Wassup? Wassup?" But, now, it's still pretty much used. It means:

"What's up?" "What's up?" means: "What's going on? What's going...? How are you?

What's going...? What are you doing?" etcetera. "What's up? What do you need?

What's up? What's up?" But now it's even... the "what" is shortened:

"Wassup?" When you... when it's spoken naturally and quickly, that's what it

sounds like: "Wassup?" with a very slight "w" sound. Okay?

So... but, again, all of these things are used in everyday conversation. And

for people who are learning English, understanding what these words mean, in

their context... context, because they're so short and spoken so quickly,

it's very hard to understand what they are and expand on them. So, you need to

start making yourself a list; you should have a notebook. And when you're

watching American shows, if you hear something and you really don't know what

that word is, or what the expression is — just take... listen to it a few times,

take the sound, and type the sound in a search box on the internet. And,

eventually, you will find the actual meaning. Okay? You can also go to... a

very good place to look is the Urban Dictionary. And if you find these words,

or if you have the transcript and you see any of these words, just go there

and they'll explain to you what it means and how it's used in everyday

conversation. It's a very good resource, if you want real, everyday spoken

English. Okay? Now, if you have any questions about any of these words,

please go to www.engvid.com, and you can ask me in the forum there. There's also

a quiz where you can test your understanding of these words, and you

can take the quiz and do that. And if you... if you like this video, please

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tips. See you soon.