clitics
/ˈklɪtɪks/
noun
- Words that are pronounced as part of the word next to them, like 'm in 'I'm' or 'll in 'she'll'.
- Linguists study clitics to understand how words combine in speech.
- In English, clitics like 've in 'I've' are attached to the verb.
- The word 'em in 'gotta catch 'em' is a clitic.