Everybody loves the sound of a British accent. It's soothing, sweet, and sexy. If you want to sound a little bit more like them, then you're going to have to figure out the differences between the way you talk and the way they talk. Here are a few words that Brits and Americans pronounce differently:
1. Zebra
Americans pronounce this word like ZEE - BRA. However, the British are a lot more simple. They just say the word the way that it's written.
2. Vitamin
Americans pronounce this word as if there's an "e" in it and say VITE - a - min. Meanwhile, the British pronounce it the way that it looks. They say VIT - a - min.
3. Aluminum
Americans pronounce this word as if it has four syllables. Meanwhile, the British pronounce it exactly like it's spelt, as if it has five syllables.
4. Privacy
Americans pronounce this word like PRY - VACY. Meanwhile, the Brits just say it like they see it and pronounce it PRIV - A - SEE.
5. Garage
The second "g" in the word makes a "zsa" sound in America. But in Britain, they say it more like GARE-idge.
6. Herb
In America, we drop the "h" and pronounce the word without it. However, in Britain, they pronounce that "h."
7. Laboratory
Americans pronounce this word as if the "o" doesn't even exist. Meanwhile, the Brits sound it out like they do with most words and make it have five syllables.
8. Tomato
The British pronounce this word like "tomahto" while Americans pronounce it like "tomayto."
9. Route
In Britain, they pronounce route as "root."
10. Yogurt
This sounds pretty different in Britain. There, they say this word like "yog hurt."
11. Pecan
In Britain, they pronounce this word in a similar way to how they pronounce "can't."
12. Missile
The British pronounce the end of this word like "aisle." Meanwhile, Americans pronounce it as if the second "i" doesn't even exist.
13. Military
Usually the Americans are the ones dropping letters. However, when the British pronounce this word, they leave out the "a."
14. Advertisement
This word actually makes a lot more sense when you hear a Brit say it. After all, the shortened version is "advert." That's why they pronounce it as Ad - VERT - iz - ment.
15. Controversy
This is a word that is a little difficult to pronounce. In English, we tend to put an emphasis on the "o" while in Britain, they tend to put an emphasis on the "v."
16. Can’t
The British say this word almost as if it's a curse word. That's why you have to be careful when mimicking the accent.
17. Mobile
In America, we pronounce this word like there's a "u" toward the end. But in Britain, they pronounce the ending like "aisle."
There's something about British accents that can drive any woman crazy. Of course, they can drive men crazy as well. That's why you should practice your pronunciation of these words. You might be able to use them to impress your crush with impersonations one day. What's your favorite word to hear a Brit pronounce?
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do Brits and Americans pronounce some words differently?
- It's mostly because of historical reasons and the way the English language evolved in both places. Over time, accents and pronunciations naturally shifted, making some words sound different.
- Which accent is older, British or American?
- Technically, British English is older since that's where the language originated. But, American English has also been evolving for centuries, so both have rich histories.
- Do Brits and Americans sometimes misunderstand each other because of accents?
- Yes, it can happen! Sometimes a word can sound so different that it takes a second to figure out what's being said. But usually, context helps a lot.
- Is there a 'right' way to pronounce these words?
- Not really! Both British and American pronunciations are perfectly fine. It's just about where you grew up and what you're used to hearing.
- Can you give an example of a word pronounced differently in the UK and US?
- Sure! Take the word 'tomato.' In the US, it's pronounced 'tuh-MAY-toh,' while in the UK, it's 'tuh-MAH-toh.'