Level A2 · Lesson 1
British English and American English use mostly the same words and grammar, but they often sound quite different. Here are the two biggest differences.
| Feature | American English | British English |
|---|---|---|
| The "r" after a vowel | Pronounced clearly: car, work, better | Usually silent: ca(r), wo(r)k, bette(r) |
| The "a" in words like dance, bath, class | Short, flat sound (like the a in "cat") | Long, open sound (like "ah") |
Click each speaker to compare the same word in both accents.
Green = American voice, purple = British voice.
A few common words are pronounced completely differently in each accent, regardless of any general rule: schedule, tomato, vitamin, garage, herb. Worth learning individually if you notice them!
Click the speaker to hear the word. Then click which accent you think it was.
Click the speaker to listen. Then click the word, and click the box with the accent you heard.
Click the speakers (green = American, purple = British) to compare each word, then drag it into the box for the rule it demonstrates: the R rule or the A rule.
Click the speakers (green = American, purple = British) to compare each word before answering.