This is a short pronunciation-coaching podcast episode from the Influency Podcast (How to Pronounce Friday) hosted by Hadar Shemesh that teaches listeners how to say the three-word phrase “figure it out” as a single, connected chunk. Hadar breaks the phrase into components ("fig" + a J/"yer" glide in "figure"), explains reduction of the function word "it" to a schwa, describes the flap T (light D-like sound) when the T occurs between vowels, and contrasts vowel quality in "out" (fronted vs. back vowel). The episode closes with a task for listeners to use the phrase in context and with subscription/contact information.
Welcome to the Influency Podcast. I'm Hadar and this is how to Pronounce Friday, where we take a confusing word or word pair. We learn how to pronounce it and how to use it with confidence.
Let's get started. Today I want to talk about the phrase Figure it out. Figure it out. So it's basically three words, but we are going to treat it as if it's one word because that's how you say it. Figure it out. It feels like it's one word. But first, let's break it down. The first word is figure, and basically it sounds like you're saying fig and your your as in your house. So the fig begins with an F sound and then it's E as in situation. So it's not fig. Fig. It's more relaxed. Drop your jaw. There should be a space of about one finger between your top and bottom teeth and then a G sound.
Fig.
Then you switch to J. So although you don't have any indication in the spelling that there is a Y sound there, because it's as in. Yes, there is no Y, but it's there in pronunciation. Listen. Figure. So it's a J sound, a schwa and an r. So basically it's a J and an r. Yer, yer, figure, figure. And then we have the two words it and out, but we connect it together so the word it reduces to a schwa and a t since it's a function word. And function words are usually reduced when they're not stressed, to a schwa. And if I connect the two words together, it sounds like figure it because the R in the word figure becomes the beginning of the word it. So basically you're saying figure r. Now the T at the end of the word it becomes the beginning of the next word. And then the T becomes a flap T because it's between two vowels. So I'm not saying figure it out. Okay? I don't pronounce it as a real T. I pronounce it as a flap T, which sounds like a D or a very light D. Listen, figure it out. You can check out the session on the flap T. Figure it out. Okay, so see how I break it down. Figure R. Dou thout. The out sound is basically the a as in cat and then an u and a T. Listen. Now, most non native speakers pronounce it with. With a back ah sound. Out. Out. It's totally okay and it's still going to be super clear. But if you want to sound closer to American speakers, then you want to bring your tongue forward to the ah sound, so it's not out, it's out, out. And when you connect the words together, it sounds like it. Out it out. The T at the end is just a healthy or a very light T, so you don't have to overly pronounce it. Figure it out. See, I just hold the air at the end. Figure it out. I have to figure it out. Figure it out. All right, so your task for this week is to find a situation where you have to use this phrase. For example, oh, I have this really big problem at work. I have to figure it out. And when you say it, make sure that you pronounce it just like the way we learned today. All right. Figure it out. As if it's one word. Okay.
That was your how to Pronounce Friday episode. I hope you enjoyed it. And if you like the podcast, then consider. Consider subscribing to the podcast. And if you feel really crazy, you can even rate and review the podcast. And you can find me at Hadar Accentsway on Instagram, where you can DM me and ask for all the crazy, fancy, confusing words that you'd like to know how to pronounce. Have a beautiful day, and I'll see you next time.
