Words Often Pronounced with H-Dropping

Many English dialects have h-dropping. One example is Cockney. However, even in standard English, five words are often pronounced with h-dropping. They are he, her, him, have and had.

The word he is often dropped in sentences such as I'm not sure if he is coming. Speakers often drop the word her in sentences such as I don't know her. In the sentence I can give it to him, the h is also often dropped.

The auxiliary verb have can also be pronounced with h-dropping. An example is the sentence She should have told me. In addition to h-dropping, the vowel is reduced and produced as a schwa. Further reduction is also possible. In the sentence I've finished, only the final consonant of the auxiliary verb is pronounced. 

Another auxiliary verb which can be pronounced with h-dropping is had. An example is the sentence If my sister had finished early, she would have joined us. In addition to h-dropping, the vowel is reduced and pronounced as a schwa. Further reduction is also possible. In the sentence If I'd started sooner, I would have already finished only the final consonant of the auxiliary verb is pronounced.

H-dropping is the phenomenon which drops the consonant from words. It is one of the distinctive characteristics of Cockney English. Though it is not associated with standard English, it is nevertheless common in five words of conversational English.