Falling intonation is the most common tune in American English. Your pitch rises on the last important word, then falls, signaling a finished thought. For the full series, start with American English intonation, part 1.
What Falling Intonation Sounds Like
Think of a small slide at the end of the phrase. The voice lands instead of climbing. Rising can make “I’m ready.” sound like “I’m ready?”
Examples of Falling Intonation
Statements
- Her boyfriend came to dinner.
- I’m six feet tall.
- Those strawberries are for dessert.
- I’ll send the file today.
Commands
- Go sit down.
- Come over here.
- Please close the door.
Wh- questions
Questions beginning with who, what, where, when, why, or how usually fall.
- What’s your name?
- How long have you worked here?
- Where did you go on vacation?
When Not to Fall
Yes/no questions usually rise: “Can you send the file today?” A list rises on unfinished items and falls on the last.
For more, see common English intonation mistakes.
Want Help With American English Intonation?
Pronunciation Pro provides American English training with guidance from a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.
For extra practice, try these daily speech therapy exercises at home. Ready to practice? Start your 7-day Pronunciation Pro trial.
