diff --git a/changelog/3462.fixed.md b/changelog/3462.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f9ede6a53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/3462.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- Fixed `MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy` to not aggregate transcriptions, preventing incorrect turn starts when words are spoken with pauses between them.
diff --git a/src/pipecat/turns/user_start/min_words_user_turn_start_strategy.py b/src/pipecat/turns/user_start/min_words_user_turn_start_strategy.py
index 1f156cef9..57a0ca0d8 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/turns/user_start/min_words_user_turn_start_strategy.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/turns/user_start/min_words_user_turn_start_strategy.py
@@ -41,12 +41,10 @@ class MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy(BaseUserTurnStartStrategy):
         self._min_words = min_words
         self._use_interim = use_interim
         self._bot_speaking = False
-        self._text = ""
 
     async def reset(self):
         """Reset the strategy to its initial state."""
         await super().reset()
-        self._text = ""
         self._bot_speaking = False
 
     async def process_frame(self, frame: Frame):
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ class MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy(BaseUserTurnStartStrategy):
         elif isinstance(frame, TranscriptionFrame):
             await self._handle_transcription(frame)
         elif isinstance(frame, InterimTranscriptionFrame) and self._use_interim:
-            await self._handle_interim_transcription(frame)
+            await self._handle_transcription(frame)
 
     async def _handle_bot_started_speaking(self, frame: BotStartedSpeakingFrame):
         """Handle bot started speaking frame.
@@ -89,41 +87,21 @@ class MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy(BaseUserTurnStartStrategy):
         """
         self._bot_speaking = False
 
-    async def _handle_transcription(self, frame: TranscriptionFrame):
+    async def _handle_transcription(self, frame: TranscriptionFrame | InterimTranscriptionFrame):
         """Handle a completed transcription frame and check word count.
 
         Args:
             frame: The transcription frame to be processed.
         """
-        self._text += frame.text
-
-        min_words = self._min_words if self._bot_speaking else 1
-
-        word_count = len(self._text.split())
-        should_trigger = word_count >= min_words
-
-        logger.debug(
-            f"{self} should_trigger={should_trigger} num_spoken_words={word_count} "
-            f"min_words={min_words} bot_speaking={self._bot_speaking}"
-        )
-
-        if should_trigger:
-            await self.trigger_user_turn_started()
-
-    async def _handle_interim_transcription(self, frame: InterimTranscriptionFrame):
-        """Handle an interim transcription frame and check word count.
-
-        Args:
-            frame: The interim transcription frame to be processed.
-        """
         min_words = self._min_words if self._bot_speaking else 1
 
         word_count = len(frame.text.split())
         should_trigger = word_count >= min_words
+        is_interim = isinstance(frame, InterimTranscriptionFrame)
 
         logger.debug(
-            f"{self} interim=True should_trigger={should_trigger} num_spoken_words={word_count} "
-            f"min_words={min_words} bot_speaking={self._bot_speaking}"
+            f"{self} should_trigger={should_trigger} num_spoken_words={word_count} "
+            f"min_words={min_words} bot_speaking={self._bot_speaking} interim_transcription={is_interim}"
         )
 
         if should_trigger:
diff --git a/tests/test_user_turn_controller.py b/tests/test_user_turn_controller.py
index 1c5cfcf85..d8f642594 100644
--- a/tests/test_user_turn_controller.py
+++ b/tests/test_user_turn_controller.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class TestUserTurnController(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(should_start, 0)
 
         await controller.process_frame(
-            TranscriptionFrame(text=" two three!", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
+            TranscriptionFrame(text="One two three!", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
         )
         self.assertEqual(should_start, 1)
 
@@ -92,13 +92,11 @@ class TestUserTurnController(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
         await asyncio.sleep(USER_TURN_STOP_TIMEOUT + 0.1)
 
         await controller.process_frame(BotStartedSpeakingFrame())
-        await controller.process_frame(
-            TranscriptionFrame(text="Hello", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
-        )
+        await controller.process_frame(TranscriptionFrame(text="Hi!", user_id="cat", timestamp=""))
         self.assertEqual(should_start, 1)
 
         await controller.process_frame(
-            TranscriptionFrame(text=" there friend!", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
+            TranscriptionFrame(text="How are you?", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
         )
         self.assertEqual(should_start, 2)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_user_turn_start_strategy.py b/tests/test_user_turn_start_strategy.py
index 51856ff9c..dabd4593b 100644
--- a/tests/test_user_turn_start_strategy.py
+++ b/tests/test_user_turn_start_strategy.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class TestMinWordsInterruptionStrategy(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
         self.assertFalse(should_start)
 
         await strategy.process_frame(
-            TranscriptionFrame(text=" there!", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
+            TranscriptionFrame(text="Hello there!", user_id="cat", timestamp="")
         )
         self.assertTrue(should_start)
 
@@ -55,6 +55,26 @@ class TestMinWordsInterruptionStrategy(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
         )
         self.assertTrue(should_start)
 
+    async def test_bot_speaking_singlw_words(self):
+        strategy = MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy(min_words=3)
+
+        should_start = None
+
+        @strategy.event_handler("on_user_turn_started")
+        async def on_user_turn_started(strategy, params):
+            nonlocal should_start
+            should_start = True
+
+        await strategy.process_frame(BotStartedSpeakingFrame())
+        await strategy.process_frame(TranscriptionFrame(text="One", user_id="cat", timestamp=""))
+        self.assertFalse(should_start)
+
+        await strategy.process_frame(TranscriptionFrame(text="Two", user_id="cat", timestamp=""))
+        self.assertFalse(should_start)
+
+        await strategy.process_frame(TranscriptionFrame(text="Three", user_id="cat", timestamp=""))
+        self.assertFalse(should_start)
+
     async def test_bot_speaking_interim_transcriptions(self):
         strategy = MinWordsUserTurnStartStrategy(min_words=2)