Words that American English Speakers Pronounce Differently than the Rest of the World
There are big differences between the way American English speakers pronounce words compared to either Britain or Australia speakers – all of which are English-speaking countries. If you learnt English at school as a second language you probably will have been taught British English. General English pronunciation is used the most on American major television programs and is more commonly spoken by American English speakers. At British language schools they teach ‘Received Pronunciation’ with an accent similar to those who attended Oxford and Cambridge universities. The majority of British people speak with local accents and these can vary tremendously between county to county and whether you are speaking to a person from the North of England or from the South of England.
Vitamin
In American English it is pronounced vite-a-min
In British English it is pronounced vit-a-min
Mobile
In American it is pronounced moh-buhl
In British English it is pronounced moh-bye-ul
Vase
In American English it rhymes with maze
In British English it rhymes with Mars
Zebra
In American English it is pronounced zee-bra
In British English it is pronounced zeh-bra
Leisure
In American English it is pronounced lee-zhuhr
In British English it is pronounced lezh-uh
Route
In American English it is pronounced rout
In British English it is pronounced root
Privacy
In American English it is pronounced prai-vuh-see
In British English it is pronounced priv-uh-see
Yoghurt
In American English it is pronounced yog-gurt
In British English it is pronounced yog-uht
Amen
In American English it is pronounced ay-men
In British English it is pronounced ah-men
Medicine
In American English it is pronounced med-ee-suhn
In British English it is pronounced med-suhn
Pasta
In American English it is pronounced par-stuh
In British English it is pronounced pas-tuh
Either
In American English it is pronounced ee-thuhr
In British English it is pronounced eye-thuh
Neither
In American English it is pronounced nee-thuh
In British English it is pronounced nigh-thuh
Vendor
In American English it is pronounced ven-door
In British English it is pronounced ven-duh
Scone
In American English it is pronounced skohn
In British English it is pronounced skon
Patent
In American English it is pronounced pat-uhnt
In British English it is pronounced pay-tuhnt
Produce
In American English it is pronounced proh-joos
In British English it is pronounced prod-joos
Garage
In American English it is pronounced ga-raj
In Australian English it is pronounced garr-arge
Ballet
In American English it is pronounced ba-lay
In Australian English it is pronounced bal-lay
Tuna
In American English it is pronounced toon-a
In Australian English (and also British English) it is pronounced tune-ar
Coffee
In America it is pronounced kaw-fee
In Australian English (and also British English) it is pronounced kough-ee
Buoy
In American English it is pronounced boo-ee
In Australian and British English it is pronounced bo-y
Car
In American English it is pronounced ka-r
In British English it is pronounced ka-
Parliament
In American English it is pronounced par-luh-muhnt
In British English it is pronounced par-li-muhnt
The advantages of speaking with both British English Speakers and American English Speakers or even Australian English speakers are that you have the practice of listening and understanding different accents. Sometimes the decision as to which pronunciation you want to learn is whether you are visiting America, England or Australia or which accent you find easier to learn or which accent your friends are learning.
