ɪɾ ɪz tˈɛknɪkli pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə kˌɑːntɪnˈɛntəl jˈuː.ˈɛs., bˌʌt ɪz nˌɑːt jˈuːʒuːəli ɪŋklˈuːdᵻd ɪnðə kəlˈoʊkwɪəl jˈuːs ʌvðə tˈɜːm; ɐlˈæskə ɪz nˌɑːt pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə kəntˈɪɡjuːəs jˈuː.ˈɛs., ˈɔfən kˈɔːld "ðə lˈoʊɚ fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt".
It is technically part of the continental U.S., but is not usually included in the colloquial use of the term; Alaska is not part of the contiguous U.S., often called "the Lower 48".