American English pronunciation
American English (General American) is the pronunciation used across most of the United States. Its defining traits are that the letter r is always pronounced — in car and hard as much as in red — the t between vowels in water and better softens to a quick d-like flap, and for most speakers the vowels of cot and caught have merged into one. Type any word above to hear it in an American voice.
Hear it in American English
Tap a word to hear it spoken in an American voice.
Voices
These voices are provided by Learn Pronounce for every visitor. If your own device has more American voices installed, they appear too — set them on the main screen.
What makes American pronunciation distinct
The r is always pronounced (rhotic)
Americans pronounce r wherever it is written, including at the end of a syllable. This is the single clearest marker of the accent.
The flap t
A t between two vowels becomes a fast, voiced tap — close to a d. So water sounds like “wadder” and better like “bedder”.
The cot–caught merger
Many American speakers pronounce cot and caught with the same vowel, a merger that is rare in British English.
Distinct word choices
Some words are simply said differently: schedule begins with a hard “sk”, tomato rhymes with “say-toe”, and the metal is aluminum.
Compare with other accents
The quickest way to hear what changes is side by side. Hear the same word in American and another accent with Compare, or read how they differ:
Related guides
Last reviewed 2026-08-18 · Learn Pronounce