Real, everyday American English — Saying No Without Saying No. You hear 40 phrases Americans actually use, each spoken clearly with a natural-speed repeat, the stressed syllable marked, and a short note on when to use it. Then take the matching quiz on word stress. Phrases in this episode (CAPITALS = the beat): No, not now. [NOH, NAHT NOW.] Don’t cut in. [DOHNT KUH-din.] Let the teacher speak. [let thuh TEE-chur SPEEK.] I had a question. [eye had uh KWES-chun.] I'd love to, but I can't. [eyed LUHV tuh, but eye KANT.] Was I a bother? [wuhz eye uh BAH-thur?] May I use this? [may eye YOOZ this?] Maybe another time. [MAY-bee uh-NUH-thur TYM.] Sir, one minute. [SUR, wun MIH-nit.] Did I interrupt? [did eye in-tur-RUPT?] I'm good, thanks. [eyem GOOD, THANGKS.] May I take this? [may eye TAYK this?] Should I hang up? [shuud eye HANG UHP?] I’m not that sure. [eyem naht that SHOOR.] Did I disturb you? [dih-DY dis-TURB yoo?] May I make a call? [may eye mayk uh KAWL?] May I leave early? [may eye LEEV UR-lee?] Where are you, sir? [wair ur yoo, SUR?] That made me happy. [that MAYD mee HA-pee.] Sorry, I got held up. [SAH-ree, eye gaht HELD UHP.] Let me have a look. [LEH-mee hav uh LOOK.] That’s a good idea. [thats uh good eye-DEE-uh.] May I say something? [may eye SAY SUHM-thing?] May I take my leave? [may eye TAYK my LEEV?] May I put this here? [may eye POOT this HEER?] No, I don’t want it. [NOH, eye DOHNT WAHNT it.] Sorry for cutting in. [SAH-ree fur KUH-ding IN.] Oh, sorry about that. [oh, SAH-ree uh-BOWT that.] I need a day’s leave. [eye NEED uh DAYZ LEEV.] Okay okay, we’ll see. [oh-KAY oh-KAY, wil SEE.] Let me think it over. [LEH-mee THINK it OH-vur.] I can’t say for sure. [eye KANT SAY fur SHOOR.] No no, that’s enough. [noh NOH, thats ee-NUHF.] Please think it over. [PLEEZ THINK it OH-vur.] Where are you? [WAIR ar yuh?] Sir, I need some help. [SUR, eye NEED sum HELP.] Would it be too much trouble? [wuud it bee TOO MUHCH TRUH-bul?] …and more in the episode