10 Key Differences Between British and American English Pronunciations in Everyday Words

British and American English often differ in pronunciation, which can sometimes confuse learners. In this post, we explore 10 common everyday words that are pronounced differently in the two variants, helping you improve your accent and understanding.

1. Tomato

British: /təˈmɑːtəʊ/ — with the “ah” sound in the middle.

American: /təˈmeɪtoʊ/ — with the “ay” sound.

2. Schedule

British: /ˈʃedjuːl/ — “sh” sound at the start.

American: /ˈskedʒuːl/ — “sk” sound at the start.

3. Aluminium

British: /ˌæl.jʊˈmɪn.i.əm/ — five syllables.

American: /əˈluː.mɪ.nəm/ — four syllables, spelled “aluminum.”

4. Route

British: /ruːt/ — rhymes with “boot.”

American: /raʊt/ — rhymes with “out.”

5. Advertisement

British: /ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt/ — stress on the second syllable.

American: /ˈædvərˌtaɪzmənt/ — stress on the first syllable.

6. Privacy

British: /ˈprɪvəsi/ — short “i” sound.

American: /ˈpraɪvəsi/ — long “i” sound.

7. Herb

British: /hɜːb/ — pronounced with the “h.”

American: /ɜːrb/ — silent “h.”

8. Garage

British: /ˈɡærɑːʒ/ or /ˈɡærɪdʒ/ — varies.

American: /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ — stress on the second syllable.

9. Vitamin

British: /ˈvɪtəmɪn/ — short “i.”

American: /ˈvaɪtəmɪn/ — long “i.”

10. Zebra

British: /ˈzɛbrə/ — “zeh” sound.

American: /ˈziːbrə/ — “zee” sound.

Conclusion

Knowing these pronunciation differences can help you understand speakers from both sides of the Atlantic and improve your own English accent. Practice listening and repeating to get comfortable with these variations.

Useful Links

• Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
• Cambridge Dictionary
• British Council – Learn English

What do you think?

Have you noticed other pronunciation differences? Share your experiences in the comments below!