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Words spelled differently in US and UK

A handful of words are not just pronounced differently but spelled differently, and the extra letters add real syllables. British aluminium has five syllables to American aluminum's four. Play these in both accents to hear the structural difference rather than a mere vowel shift.


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The words

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Day, mate, price, no: the vowels that make Australian English instantly recognisable. Hear them.
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Necessary, laboratory, secretary: Americans keep a full syllable that the British swallow.
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Hot, dog, caught, thought: the O vowels split three ways across accents. Hear each version.
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Button, water, bottle: many speakers swap the T for a catch in the throat. Hear where it happens.
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In British English the R comes back when a vowel follows. Hear far versus far away.
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About, house, price, write: the vowel lifts before voiceless consonants. Hear the famous shift.
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Keep practising

Browse every practice list or the word index, hear two accents back to back on Compare, or test your ear with the listening quiz.

To read the rules behind these words, see the pronunciation guides — including silent letters, word stress and American vs British. Or hear each accent on its own page: American, British, Australian.