Questions tagged [american-accent]
For questions on how language is spoken in the US
71
questions
37
votes
16answers
9k views
How can I get rid of my Indian accent and sound more neutral/native
I have recently moved to Canada and I feel I often end up having to repeat myself because of my typical accent. I am attaching a link to a very short audio and would love to know what can I do to fix ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Do Americans pronounce 'are' as 'do' in “What are you waiting for”
It seems a stupid question, but I already hear American on TV or movies or even songs, say Are like Do in this context
What are you waiting for
I just listened to it again in this song
https://...
5
votes
1answer
420 views
Which Words Should I Stress?
here are four sentences. I mark the words that I believe are stressed with bold.
I'll call you back.
I'll call you back in a minute.
I'll call you back in a few minutes.
I'll call you back as soon as ...
4
votes
3answers
740 views
do you release the air from nose when say cotton?
I am trying to learn how to pronounce words like cotton, written, mountain.
in general, the t, then n (between them will not be pronounced)
so i learned that i have to cut the t. in other words, make ...
4
votes
2answers
266 views
US-American pronunciation of 'e'
Since quite some time I get the impression, that especially in US-American, spoken english the pronunciation of 'e' (as in 'best' — /ɛ/) seems to shift towards 'a' (as in 'flat' — /æ/). Some recent ...
4
votes
1answer
402 views
Palm RP and GA pɑːm pɑm pɑlm
I'm confused with the different pronunciations of "calm". I'm using lexical sets to understand the differences between Received Pronunciation and General American.
According to Wikipedia, the ...
4
votes
2answers
632 views
Have you ever said “muna” instead of “gonna”?
What do you think about this word? Please watch this video for explanation.
3
votes
1answer
392 views
Pronunciations of “class” as found in Collins American English Dictionary
The Collins American English Dictionary gives
class two pronunciations, presumably with respect to American English.
Does this mean American English speakers use both equally and that both are okay?...
3
votes
3answers
921 views
american accent tool or website
I am a non native speaker.
I have never talked English with anyone before. so all my accent depends only on how I see the word or if I heard it from a movie.
Is there any website or tool FREE that I ...
3
votes
2answers
622 views
Can we drop the T sound in word grunting in American English?
I was taught that when the T sound after an N sound, the T can be dropped in American English. As internet can be pronounced as innernet, winter can be winner, printer can be prinner.
What about ...
3
votes
1answer
632 views
How do I understand Yvonne Strahovski's accent in an interview with Craig Ferguson?
Source
At 3:45, I really found it very difficult to understand her accent. The youtube transcript shows the very out-of-world things.
Should I practice with BBC documentaries for both Aussie and ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
Pronunciation of the “p” in the words like “splatter”, “splash”, “split”, “explain” in American accent?
In the words like "splatter", "splash", "split" and "explain" should I make an aspirated or an unaspirated "p" sound? I can't decide which way is correct. I need your help.
3
votes
2answers
614 views
Americans flap the /d/ of the consonant cluster /rd / if it is between two vowels, right?
I am like 99% sure that Americans do what I said in the title, but I wanted ask you anyway. My question is: When a word ends with /rd/ after a vowel and when the next word starts with a vowel, also in ...
3
votes
3answers
209 views
Can I drop both of the “h”s in the phrases “his or her”, “him or her” and “his or hers”?
As you know the "h"s in the words "him", "his", "he", "her" and "hers", if there is a consonant before them, can be dropped. For example the "h" in the sentence "Why does he like you so much?" can be ...
3
votes
5answers
299 views
American pronunciation of “second” (edited)
I'm learning American English with some online classes, and the instructor says that the 2nd vowel 'o' of "second" sounds like "/e/" in everyday conversation (e.g. "Can I talk to you for a second?"). ...
3
votes
2answers
160 views
In American English, can we flap the /d/ in the phrases “Where did”, “Where do”, “Where don't” and “Where does”?
I am 99% sure Americans quite often flap the /d/ sound which comes right after /r/ in the phrases "Where did", "Where do", "Where don't" and "Where does" (I am talking about the initial /d/'s), and I ...
3
votes
1answer
892 views
How do you make the flap t sound as in “Better” and “letter”?
How do I make the flap/tap t sound as in words like: better, matter, stutter, moto, but I'm, bottom and so?
3
votes
2answers
207 views
Is it possible to pronounce jury as /dʒɜːri/?
sometimes I hear Americans pronounce jury as ''/dʒɜːri/''. Is that right? Is it regional or generally they say this way?
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Stress in the sentence “I'm proud of you, Hannah”
I know that we usually stress content words in a sentence and unstress function words as long as stress is not shifted for special emphasis.
In the sentence, "I'm proud of you, Hannah", I would ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
how to pronounce words 'baths' in actual conversation?
I was confused by the pronunciation of consonant cluster 'ths' at the end of the word.
For example: the cluster 'ths' in word months, according to ESL teaching videos on Youtube,video for months' ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I make an unaspirated /t/ sound in the words like “best”, “chest”, “belt” etc. in American English?
As far as I know, if there is a vowel before the final /t/ or if there is the letter /n/ before the final /t/, we can make an unaspirated /t/ sound in American English. For example: "hot", "cut", "...
2
votes
2answers
253 views
Need pronunciation feedback: What do you do?
I need your feedback. Did I pronounce the question "What do you do?" good or not so good in American English? https://clyp.it/wnxeqwau
Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thank you!
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Pronunciation of “sure” in American English
I saw that "sure" can be pronounced [ʃʊər] or [ʃər] in the dictionary.
Here's my audio: https://clyp.it/4gdwhi24 First I pronounce it [ʃʊər] then [ʃər]
I don't know which one should I use, or is this ...
2
votes
1answer
493 views
American English Phonetics. Silent H in What's his name?
Is the letter 'h' silent when Americans pronounce the question 'What's his name?' in casual speech?
The question 'What's his name?' phonetically looks like: [wʌts_ɪz neɪm].
I think the words "WHAT'S"...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Is it a very common and recognized way to pronounce the word “opposite” /ˈɑː.pə.sɪt/?
Cambridge Dictionary gives an IPA /ˈɑː.pə.zɪt/ for the word "opposite", which totally fits with what I know.
This American kindergarten teacher in the YouTube video titled: Antonym Rap: Reviewing ...
2
votes
1answer
241 views
How to pronounce a voiceless stop when it's at the end of a word which is behind a word that starts with a vowel?
I wonder if Americans usually make an unaspirated sound when the letters "k", "p" or "t" is at the end of a word and when the next word starts with a vowel. I know that I should make a flap sound when ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
What's the better way to ask if someone have just done something at this moment of time
I want to ask someone if he at this moment entered the apartment. I mean he literally made his first step into the apartment at this moment. Should I say
Have you just entered the apartment?
Did you ...
2
votes
2answers
301 views
Should the last letter 'd' pronounced in word 'independent'?
I've got to know that the 'T' sound in American English has various pronunciation rules.
For example, flap T. And also one of the rule is when T sound followed by an 'n' sound or 'ən' sound, the 'T' ...
2
votes
3answers
423 views
I need feedback on my pronunciation
I would like to have your feedback on my pronunciation: https://clyp.it/3d4d5jxh
Your time is greatly appareciated. English is my second language. Thank you!
2
votes
2answers
884 views
Which mouth form is the close one to pronounce the R
I am trying to learn American R, I have a problem, which is the R becomes like "O" in the begging of the word like
Reall-> I say: "Oreally" with a very very very small "O".
So I tried to change my ...
2
votes
0answers
80 views
Schwa Sounds in American Accent [duplicate]
I am new in America and I see most of the people use schwa sounds with most of the characters as p,w, k,c and so on. I wanted to know what all characters have the schwa sound and when and how to use ...
2
votes
1answer
406 views
What is the real or main difference between English and American speaking? [closed]
I thought that English speaking was about remarking consonants over vowels... but when I watch an american movie I don't notice that fact...
I'd like to speak English in the most understandable way......
2
votes
2answers
81 views
How to pronounce the “n” in “wasn't really…” fast?
When people say "wasn't really" really fast, does the tongue position for /n/ in "wasn't" exactly the same as an usual /n/?
(like in this description.)
I ask this question because ...
2
votes
1answer
167 views
Pronunciation of the second /k/ in “excuse”?
The "p" in "application" is unaspirated and the "p" in "apply" is aspirated since it is the first letter in the stressed syllable, am I right? When an unvoiced stop is the first letter of a stressed ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Does English contain accented letters?
Does English contain accented letters? Is there a standard list of accented letters that are used in the English language?
In my application I'm currently allowing the characters a-z and áéóúíý ...
1
vote
3answers
385 views
Do Americans remove the “t” in “sent”?
I am trying to learn how American say sent. For example:
I sent you two dollars
or
The king has sent me ...
Update
Please also do you remove the t in Not?
Is there any role when you remove ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
American English pronunciation: basically or “basicly”?
Does the final "a" drop out in words like "basically", "logically", etc, or should I pronounce it?
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Do I have to pronounce the letter “l” as light or dark when there is a double “l” followed by a vowel in a word?
It is known that when the letter l is followed by a vowel then it is pronounced as light, and when it is at the end of a word or is followed by a consonant then it is pronounced as dark. But it is ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Pronunciation of “Syncing”? [closed]
I just realized that I have been reading this word since long ago, but I am not sure of its correct pronunciation in American and British English.
1
vote
1answer
57 views
What's the colloquial way to express those questions?
Now, if someone told me that the weather is very bad. I would like to ask about when it started to become bad and for how many days.
Is it okay to use "How long" like:
How long has it been bad?
...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
“Law” vs “Lawyer” pronunciation, why is the “law” part sometimes pronounced differently?
So I've recently watched "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" (which is set in SoCal), and I've noticed everyone there pronounced "Law" and "Lawyer" differently, which was really ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
What this person is saying in “American English” accent?
Video
At 1:02: He says
Human beings should be ..... from each other.
Also a little bit confusion between 0:02 and 0:10. I believe it is:
Went through .......
1
vote
1answer
517 views
Are 'bud' and 'butt' pronounced identically in American English accent?
Just for clarification, I'm more uncertain of the way the vowel after /b/ is pronounced in the two words and if it's the same in both words, rather than the ending consonant(s), although I would ...
1
vote
1answer
261 views
Rapid speech pronunciation of <What do they> call a whopper
I'd like to know why in the audio clip here what sounds like /hu/. Is it because what could oddly enough be pronounced as /hwʌt/ that starts with /h/. I'd like to add that I don't remember I've heard ...
1
vote
1answer
203 views
Pronunciation of “neural” in an American accent [closed]
I am trying to pronounce the word neural in an American accent. I found it like nooral. Is that correct? Or should it be like nywral? or something else?
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Sentence Stress: I'm sort of busy right now
I heard this phrase in a TV show: "I'm sort of busy right now". You can listen it here (I cut out the phrase): https://clyp.it/4khla44l
Phonetically it looks like: [ɑɪm soərt əv bɪzi raɪt naʊ]. The ...
1
vote
1answer
373 views
How to speak fluent in southern accent? [closed]
I want to speak like George W Bush's accent and like cowboys.
Example:
Y`all and Howdy?
I would die for this accent. I sincerely love this accent over cockney one.
1
vote
1answer
79 views
How can I learn one of the standard English accents? [closed]
A few months ago, I was asked to send a videotape of my self-introduction for a job of a language teacher in China. I was rejected citing the reason that my accent was not satisfactory.
I want to ...
1
vote
3answers
800 views
How to pronounce pick it up in Standard American English
When you pronounce the phrase 'pick it up' as a native speaker, is there any word in it that need to be pronounce higher in pitch with more stress?
This is how I pronounce it in American English. I'm ...
1
vote
2answers
905 views
Do Americans pronounce “do you” as something like “dia” or “d'ya”?
I heard some Americans talking and they said something like dia/d'ya instead of do you.
For example:
What time do you have
was said something like
what time dia/d'ya have
is that correct ...
