Questions tagged [american-accent]
For questions on how language is spoken in the US
82
questions
38
votes
16answers
12k 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 ...
8
votes
6answers
3k views
Is there a Russian accent in my pronunciation of “lee”?
My first language is Russian. I tried to learn American English pronunciation of the word "lee" and other words containing / li / sound, like "delete". When I compared the ...
8
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
3answers
803 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
695 views
Have you ever said “muna” instead of “gonna”?
What do you think about this word? Please watch this video for explanation.
5
votes
1answer
425 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
2answers
351 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
393 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
960 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
1answer
436 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
640 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
1k 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
275 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
452 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
1answer
932 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?
2
votes
2answers
693 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
2k 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
258 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.
2
votes
2answers
2k 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
318 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
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
532 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
165 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
316 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
2answers
207 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
2k 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
230 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
3answers
460 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
921 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
2answers
181 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
84 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
2answers
93 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
399 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
1answer
162 views
Is General American Accent the only choice If I want learn an accent through the Internet that is understood by everyone?
I am learning English. Please stop telling me accent is not important. If I want to understood by everyone I need to learn an accent. I know no matter how hard I try, I will never sound perfect. But ...
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
3answers
99 views
Dropping the /t/ sound in words like, “wanted” [duplicate]
In my experience, a lot of Americans, on many occasions, don't make the standard /t/ sound in words like "wanted," "twenty," "accidentally," "presented," "...
1
vote
1answer
80 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
84 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
217 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
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!
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
2answers
58 views
Is it wrong to pronounce “to” as /tə/ before words starting with vowels?
In Oxford Dictionary, it says it is correct to pronounce "to" as /tə/ only before words starting with a consonant. It seems fair to me too because /tə/ sounds off and unsmooth before vowels; ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Pronunciation of “tag” in American English
I have heard some American English speakers saying the word "tag" like [tεg], but the [ɛ] vowel is somewhat lengthened. Is that a specific regional accent? I can't find this pronunciation on ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Is the d in “lived in” flapped in American English?
I am trying to say the sentence :
how long have you lived in the US
My pronunciation of "lived in" feels so heavy handed compared to this audio recording.
I wonder, is the d flapped? It ...
1
vote
1answer
380 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
80 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
2answers
2k 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' ...
1
vote
2answers
4k views
Are “Put it on” and “Put them on” phrasal verbs?
Are "put it on" and "put them on" phrasal verbs? I noticed that when Americans pronounce "put them on" they don't say "them". They use the weak form of "them" that sounds like "əm" (schwa sound + m).
...
1
vote
1answer
693 views
Am I pronouncing “button” correctly, in an American accent?
I recorded my voice saying "button" in American English.
Could you please tell me if I am saying it correctly?
http://www.filedropper.com/untitled_77
