Ever wanted to sound like an American? Here are some rules that will help you to improve your American accent and impress your friends.
What are the characteristics of the American accent?
Read through the rules and practice saying the words with these rules. But most importantly, keep your ears open and try to tell if someone that you meet comes from the UK or the US. Hearing the difference will help you to create that difference for yourself (whichever accent you choose to follow).
1) Hold the T and drop the vowel.
Words that have a T and an N, such as cotton, smitten and rotten are pronounced with a “ton”, “tin” or a “ten” sound in British English where the “tt” is clearly pronounced as a “T” sound. Pronounced with a general American accent, this “T” is held and the vowel sound is dropped so it is pronounced more like “cot-n”.
When we pronounce a “T” sound, with British accent, you would touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue. You would release your tongue and then touch again for the “N” sound. With an American accent, you would hold your tongue there for the “T” and “N” sounds.
Try saying words like cotton, smitten, rotten, button, mutton and mitten.
2) Always pronounce the R
In British English, the tendency is to drop the “R” sound at the end and in the middle of words. In American English, these words are rounded off with the “R” sound.
Try saying the words car, far, fourth, carton and start.
3) Vowels + L make two syllables
Words like feel and real are often pronounced by foreigners with just one sound which makes them sound more like “fill”. To pronounce these naturally, try making two sounds.
• Feel sounds more like “fee-ill”
• Real sounds like “Re-ill”
Try saying words like feel, real, meal, school, fool, and tool.
4) Reduction of unstressed syllables
In rapid speech, Americans tend to reduce or weaken unstressed syllables. This can result in changes to vowel sounds, such as pronouncing “a” as a schwa sound (ə) in words like “about” or “banana.”
5) Linking and blending
Americans often link words together and blend sounds to create a smoother flow in speech. For example, “What are you doing?” might be pronounced as “Whaddya doin’?”
Take a little time to practice these and you will be well on your way to improving your accent. Do you need help with your American accent? Check out our American accent course and improve it with one of our native-English teachers from the USA.
Improve your American Accent and more
Working on your American accent is definitely an advantage even though you shouldn’t worry if your accent is not perfect. Beyond the accent, learning to speak American English means entering the American world and mindset. This can be achieved when you speak American English, and use the expressions and turns of phrases popular with Americans. By taking lessons with American English teachers, you will have the opportunity to listen to the nuances of the language, and their accent, and be influenced (even unconsciously) by this when you speak.
Practice your American accent, introduce yourself and speak like an American!
