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Talk with a British accent in no time with these expert-backed tips!
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Whether you’re trying to impress your friends or dive into a character, learning a British accent can be a fun way to do so! But where do you start? What should you know? We spoke with British Accent Coach Luke Nicholson to talk you through the basics of a British accent, specifically the Received Pronunciation (RP) accent, which is the base of most British dialects. So, keep reading for a pronunciation guide to learn how to talk with a British accent fast.
How to Talk in a British Accent
British accent coach Luke Nicholson says to drop the “r” in British English except before vowels. For instance, don’t say the “r” at the end of “water” unless it’s followed by a word like “in.” Enunciate “t” clearly rather than making a “d” sound and master special vowels, like the “OR” in “north.”
Steps
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Draw out vowels instead of pronouncing R s. After a vowel, don’t pronounce the R . Instead, draw out the vowel and add an uh sound. For example, “here” would be pronounced as “heeuh.” As another example, “hurry” would be “huh-ree.” [1] X Research source
- In American English, words ending with "-rl" or "-rel" can be pronounced using either one or two syllables. This is not the case in British English. "-rl" words like "girl and "hurl" are pronounced as one syllable with a silent R , while "squirrel" is "squih-rul", and "referral" is "re-fer-rul".
- Some words are easier to say in a British accent. For example, “mirror” sounds like “mih-ra.”
- Some awkward pauses in sentences are also removed by the addition of R before a vowel. For example, "I saw it" becomes "I saw-rit."
- Nicholson explains that the R
sound is only pronounced “if there’s a vowel sound after it.” [2]
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Expert Source
Luke Nicholson
British Accent Coach Expert Interview - Keep in mind that every British accent is different. For example, a Scottish accent varies greatly from an English accent.
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Pronounce U as an ew or you sound. Avoid pronouncing U as oo. For example, “stupid” becomes “stewpid” and “duty” becomes “dewty.” [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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3Exaggerate A s at the back of the throat. In the standard English accent, the A (for example, in “father”) is pronounced at the back of the mouth with an open throat and sounds like “arh.” This is the case in pretty much all British accents, but it's exaggerated. Words such as “bath,” “path,” and “glass” become “barth,” “parth,” and “glarss.” [4] X Research source
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Enunciate on heavy consonant words. Consonants are speech sounds that are not vowels. When doing a British accent, pronounce consonants with a heavy or hard edge. For example, the T in “duty” is pronounced as “dewty.” [5] X Research source
- As another example, “human being” is pronounced as “hewman being” or “yooman been” with a strong emphasis on consonant sounds.
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Drop your T s. With some British accents, T s are not typically pronounced. Instead, a “hiccup” or slight pause replaces the sound. For example, the word “battle” is pronounced as “ba-ill.” The air catches at the back of the tongue between the first and second syllables. [6] X Research source
- People with Estuary English, Received Pronunciation (RP), Scottish, Irish , and Welsh accents may consider it lazy and rude to drop T s. But in almost all accents, it's acceptable to do so in the middle of words in casual contexts.
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Add an extra syllable when two or more vowels are together. Sometimes, extra syllables are added to words with one or two syllables. For example, the word “road” is often pronounced as “rohd,” “ro-ord,” or “reh-uud.” This puts emphasis on the end of the word. [7] X Research source
- Nicholson emphasizes that it’s important to focus on the rhythmic differences of syllables, as these relate to stress and express which parts of a sentence are important. [8]
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Expert Source
Luke Nicholson
British Accent Coach Expert Interview
- Nicholson emphasizes that it’s important to focus on the rhythmic differences of syllables, as these relate to stress and express which parts of a sentence are important. [8]
X
Expert Source
Luke Nicholson
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Know that some words aren’t pronounced as written. With a British accent, words are often pronounced differently from how they’re spelled. There’s often a stress on consonants in British pronunciation, so words are often stressed differently than when they’re spoken in an American accent. For example: [9] X Research source
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- British: /uhd-VURT-tiz-muhnt/
- American: /ad-vuhr-TYZ-muhnt/
- Schedule
- British: /SHED-jool/
- American: /sked-jool/
- Mobile
- British: /MOH-bile/
- American: /MOH-buhl/
- Adult
- British: /AD-uhlt/
- American: /uh-DULT/
- Yoghurt
- British: /YOG-urt/ or /YOH-gurt/
- American: /YOH-guhrt/ or /YOH-hurt/
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Listen to the music of the language. All accents and dialects have their own musicality. Pay attention to the tones and emphasis of British speakers. Notice when the voice pitches up and when there’s a rhythm to syllables. Listening intently to a native speaker can help you make your accent more authentic and realistic. [10] X Research source
- For instance, you may observe that there’s a tendency to go down slightly towards the end of a phrase with a British accent, but a notable lack of this in a Liverpool-specific accent.
- The best way to do this is to listen to all things British! Turn on a television show, movie, or interview featuring British people.
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Ask someone with a British accent to say well-known sentences. Hearing popular phrases or lines can help you mimic an accent more closely. After all, you likely say these phrases yourself in your own accent. Know it’s all about altering your speech slightly to copy the British speaker. [11] X Research source
- Try repeating phrases like “How now brown cow” and “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain” to pick up on specific parts of the accent.
- If you don’t have someone to ask, no worries! Try copying lines from a British television show or movie in the accent they’re spoken in.
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Immerse yourself in British culture. One of the best things you can do when learning an accent is to embody the country’s culture. The more British things you take in, the more likely you are to naturally adopt the accent! Watch British television, listen to British radio and podcasts, or even take a trip to the United Kingdom. [12] X Research source
- A formal British accent can be heard on BBC News.
- For a more casual, laid-back dialect, watch British YouTubers like AmazingPhil, danisnotonfire, Zoella, The Sidemen, and DanTDM.
- Movies like Harry Potter and TV shows like Sherlock or Downton Abbey can help you pick up different British accents and dialects.
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4Try to use British slang words. To make your British accent more realistic, use British slang whenever you can. Here are some of the most popular British slang words : [13] X Research source
- “Lads” or “blokes” = Boys or men
- “Birds” or “lasses” = Girls or women
- “Loo” = Toilet
- “Bits ‘n bobs” = Odd selection of things
- “Cheerio” = Later or see ya
- “Jiffy” = Quickly
- “Nosh” = Food
- “Chips” = French fries
EXPERT TIPBritish Accent CoachLuke Nicholson is a British accent coach based in London with over a decade of experience helping English learners communicate more clearly. Luke lectures at University College London's Summer Course in English Phonetics and is a member of the International Phonetic Association. In 2012, he founded Improve Your Accent to address the lack of high-quality British English pronunciation materials. He has taught students from 90 countries and has been featured in media such as BBC Radio London, Times Radio, and The Evening Standard. In 2017, Luke was awarded IPSE's UK Freelancer of the Year, and in 2020, he received YouTube's Silver Creator Award. With a strong online presence, Luke has 170K YouTube subscribers and 158K Instagram followers. In 2021, his pronunciation course reached the finals of the British Council ELTons Awards. Luke's paper "Teaching vowels physically" was published as the lead article in an issue of the Voice and Speech Review. He is an enthusiastic language learner and created funetics.com, a site offering phonetics resources for a variety of languages. Luke has a BA in German and Italian Studies from the University of Birmingham and the International Phonetic Association Certificate from the University College London.Check your pronunciation with an International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) dictionary. If you’re learning an accent on your own, practice at home and check your pronunciation using an IPA dictionary. This is an excellent resource that can help you master your accent.
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Join the Discussion...
If you're doing a British accent, figure out what class you’re trying to mimic, then try to find a recording and listen and try to understand how they're substituting. Learning dialects often starts with speech and voice work where you're learning a phonetic alphabet. It's like if you go to the dictionary and you see the upside-down E, that's an Ah sound. So, very often, if people are trying to learn it by sight and substitution, they can say, “Ah, so I don't say the Ah sound. That sounds more like Eh in this accent.” That can be helpful for people who like to learn it a bit more technically.
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QuestionCan you change your voice?Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association.Yes, absolutely. It's not even about changing your voice, it is about growing your voice. So many people speak right from the throat, so their voices aren't really fully embodied. If you start to breathe and do exercises to open up your voice, you'll find out the full range of your voice.
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QuestionHow do I learn to talk fast with the British accent?Community AnswerKeep practicing to improve your accent, and try to think in a British accent so it comes more naturally.
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QuestionWhat would it take for me to master a British accent in 8 months?Community AnswerWatch lots of British entertainment and listen closely. Practice everyday by reading aloud in a British accent. Also, record your voice to see how you're doing. You could easily have the accent down sooner than 8 months.
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Tips
- Nicholson explains that it can take time to learn a new accent, so be patient with yourself. Everyone learns at their own pace.[v163275_b01]. 14 Feb 2025.Thanks
- Looking for more examples? Check out AccentHelp for Actors, a hub for lessons on every British accent imaginable.Thanks
- Keep in mind that some people might take offense at you copying an accent. So, always be respectful and kind.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- One of the best ways to get better at doing a British accent is listening to celebrities who are known for having one, like Joanne Lumley and Dame Judi Dench. Or, watch shows that showcase the British accent, like Downtown Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs.
- Practice speaking in a British accent whenever you can, whether you're talking to yourself at home or chatting with friends and family.
- I find that the best way to sound naturally British and nail the accent is to pronounce every letter and speak very clearly.
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References
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Received-Pronunciation
- ↑ Luke Nicholson. British Accent Coach. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Received-Pronunciation
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Received-Pronunciation
- ↑ https://raleighlittletheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-dialect-guide.pdf
- ↑ https://research.library.kutztown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/english334/article/1001/&path_info=Received_Pronunciation.pdf
- ↑ https://raleighlittletheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-dialect-guide.pdf
- ↑ Luke Nicholson. British Accent Coach. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.berlitz.com/blog/british-english-vs-american-english-spelling-pronunciation-words
About This Article
Article Summary
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To speak in a British accent, try listening to British music and British radio stations to pick up on the way common words are pronounced. You can also watch British news channels, like the BBC, to get an idea of how British people speak. Also, try watching movies with British characters and repeating their lines out loud to practice your accent. If you know someone with a British accent, ask them to say different words out loud so you can learn how to pronounce them. To learn how to pronounce different words and letters using a British accent, read on!
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- "I was attracted to a British accent a lot and being an Indian I don't have a lot of British friends, or I should say not even a single one. But this article actually helped me with the tips and also clarified certain words and pronunciation, too. Thanks." ..." more
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"I was attracted to a British accent a lot and being an Indian I don't have a lot of British friends, or I should say not even a single one. But this article actually helped me with the tips and also clarified certain words and pronunciation, too. Thanks."
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