British vs American Pronunciation
The main differences between British and American English, and which one to learn.
British and American English sound different, but the differences follow clear patterns. This page compares General British (the modern form of RP, used on this site) with General American. Knowing both helps you understand films, colleagues and podcasts from both sides of the Atlantic.
The Five Big Differences
These patterns affect thousands of words.
11. The R after vowels
British English is non-rhotic: R is only pronounced before a vowel. American English is rhotic: R is pronounced everywhere.
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| car | /kɑː/ | /kɑːr/ |
| water | /ˈwɔːtə/ | /ˈwɑːtər/ |
| bird | /bɜːd/ | /bɝːd/ |
| here | /hɪə/ | /hɪr/ |
22. T between vowels
In American English, /t/ between vowels becomes a quick tap, close to /d/: water, city, better, getting. In British English it stays /t/, or becomes a glottal stop in casual speech.
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| water | /ˈwɔːtə/ | [ˈwɑːɾɚ] |
| better | /ˈbetə/ | [ˈbeɾɚ] |
| city | /ˈsɪti/ | [ˈsɪɾi] |
33. The BATH words
In about 150 common words, southern British English uses long /ɑː/, while American English (and northern England) uses /æ/.
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| bath | /bɑːθ/ | /bæθ/ |
| can't | /kɑːnt/ | /kænt/ |
| dance | /dɑːns/ | /dæns/ |
| after | /ˈɑːftə/ | /ˈæftər/ |
| ask | /ɑːsk/ | /æsk/ |
44. The LOT and GOAT vowels
British hot, stop, job have a short, rounded /ɒ/. American English uses an open, unrounded /ɑː/. In go, home, no, British /əʊ/ starts in the centre of the mouth; American /oʊ/ starts further back.
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| hot | /hɒt/ | /hɑːt/ |
| stop | /stɒp/ | /stɑːp/ |
| go | /ɡəʊ/ | /ɡoʊ/ |
| home | /həʊm/ | /hoʊm/ |
55. The /j/ in new and tune
After /t, d, n/, British English keeps a /j/ sound; American English usually drops it.
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| new | /njuː/ | /nuː/ |
| tune | /tjuːn/ or /tʃuːn/ | /tuːn/ |
| student | /ˈstjuːdnt/ | /ˈstuːdnt/ |
| during | /ˈdjʊərɪŋ/ | /ˈdʊrɪŋ/ |
Words That Are Simply Different
Some individual words have different vowels, consonants or stress.
1Different sounds
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| schedule | /ˈʃedjuːl/ | /ˈskedʒuːl/ |
| tomato | /təˈmɑːtəʊ/ | /təˈmeɪtoʊ/ |
| vitamin | /ˈvɪtəmɪn/ | /ˈvaɪtəmɪn/ |
| herb | /hɜːb/ | /ɝːb/ (no h) |
| leisure | /ˈleʒə/ | /ˈliːʒər/ |
| privacy | /ˈprɪvəsi/ | /ˈpraɪvəsi/ |
| mobile | /ˈməʊbaɪl/ | /ˈmoʊbəl/ |
| route | /ruːt/ | /ruːt/ or /raʊt/ |
| aluminium / aluminum | /ˌæljəˈmɪniəm/ | /əˈluːmɪnəm/ |
2Different stress
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| garage | GArage /ˈɡærɑːʒ/ | gaRAGE /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ |
| ballet | BALLet /ˈbæleɪ/ | balLET /bæˈleɪ/ |
| café | CAfé /ˈkæfeɪ/ | caFÉ /kæˈfeɪ/ |
| adult | ADult or aDULT | aDULT |
| laboratory | laBORatory /ləˈbɒrətri/ | LABoratory /ˈlæbrətɔːri/ |
3-ary, -ery, -ory
British English often reduces these endings, so the word has one syllable less. American English keeps a full vowel.
| Word | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| secretary | /ˈsekrətri/ | /ˈsekrəteri/ |
| dictionary | /ˈdɪkʃənri/ | /ˈdɪkʃəneri/ |
| territory | /ˈterətri/ | /ˈterətɔːri/ |
Which Accent Should You Learn?
Both are correct, internationally understood and used in exams.
Our advice
- Choose one model for speaking, and be consistent. It is fine if your English is a little mixed, but avoid switching within one word or sentence.
- Learn to understand both. You will meet both at work, online and on holiday.
- Remember the variety. Neither Britain nor America has one accent. Scotland, Liverpool, Texas and New York all sound different.
- Clarity matters more than accent. The goal is to be understood easily, not to sound like a newsreader.
On this site: all pronunciation follows General British (modern RP), as used in international teaching and exams.
Check Yourself
Decide, then open the answer.
-
In which accent is the R in car pronounced?
Show answer
American. British English is non-rhotic: /kɑː/.
-
can't with a long /ɑː/: British or American?
Show answer
British (southern): /kɑːnt/. American: /kænt/.
-
Which accent says water with a tap, like „wadder“?
Show answer
American.
-
British pronunciation of schedule?
Show answer
/ˈʃedjuːl/, with „sh“.
-
British stress in garage?
Show answer
On the first syllable: GArage.
-
Which accent says new as /njuː/?
Show answer
British.
Keep Practising
Related pages in the Pronunciation Studio.
Two Accents, One Language
Pick one model for your own speaking, learn to understand both, and focus on being clear. That is what really matters.
Be consistent. Be clear.
Pronunciation Studio Book a lesson