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US vs UK vowel words

Some very common words simply have different vowels in American and British English, with neither being an error. Tomato is tuh-may-toh in the US and tuh-mah-toh in the UK, and Americans drop the H in herb. Play each word in both accents and pick the one you want to sound like.

Accent

15 words · intermediate · your accent and voice are remembered across the site. More options on the settings page.

The words

tomato
either
neither
vase
herb
leisure
zebra
route
schedule
privacy
dynasty
apricot
yoghurt
lever
process

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Yod-dropping words
Tuesday, new, duke: Brits say a Y sound the Americans drop. Hear nyoo versus noo.
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Australian vowel words
Day, mate, price, no: the vowels that make Australian English instantly recognisable. Hear them.
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O vowel accent words
Hot, dog, caught, thought: the O vowels split three ways across accents. Hear each version.
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Glottal stop T words
Button, water, bottle: many speakers swap the T for a catch in the throat. Hear where it happens.
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Linking R words
In British English the R comes back when a vowel follows. Hear far versus far away.
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Canadian raising words
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.