American and British English pronunciation differences

Differences in pronunciation between American English (AmE) and British English (BrE) can be divided into

  • differences in accent (i.e. phoneme inventory and realisation). See differences between General American and Received Pronunciation for the standard accents in the United States and Britain; for information about other accents see regional accents of English speakers.
  • differences in the pronunciation of individual words in the lexicon (i.e. phoneme distribution). In this article, transcriptions use Received Pronunciation (RP) to represent BrE and General American (GAm) to represent AmE.
Comparison of
American and
British English
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Speech
Spelling
Vocabulary
Works

In the following discussion:

  • superscript A2 after a word indicates that the BrE pronunciation of the word is a common variant in AmE.
  • superscript B2 after a word indicates that the AmE pronunciation of the word is a common variant in BrE.
  • superscript A1 after a word indicates that the pronunciation given as BrE is also the most common variant in AmE.
  • superscript B1 after a word indicates that the pronunciation given as AmE is also the most common variant in BrE.

Stress

Subscript a or b means that the relevant unstressed vowel is also reduced to /ə/ or /ɪ/ in AmE or BrE, respectively.

French stress

For many loanwords from French AmE has introduced a final-syllable stress, BrE stresses an earlier syllable or, as in the original French, uses equal stress on each syllable. French loanwords that differ in stress only are listed below.

BrE AmE words with relevant syllable stressed in each dialect[1]
1st 2nd débâcleB2[nb 1]
2nd 1st artisanalA1, liaisonabA2*[nb 2], macraméab, Renaissanceab[nb 3]
1st last balletA2, bandeau, barragea,[nb 4] batonab*, beignet, bereta[nb 5], bidet, blaséA2, bouffantA2,[nb 6] brasserieb, brassièreab, brevetabA2,[2] brochureb*B2,[nb 7][3] brûlée, buffeta,[nb 8][4] bustier,[nb 9] cachetA2, café*a*b, caffeineA2, calvados,[nb 10] canardaB1,[5] chagrina, chaletA2, château, chauffeurA2, cliché*a, collagea*B2, cornet, crochet, croissant*a, croquet, debrisaA2,[nb 11] debut, décorA2, detailaA2, épée, figurineB2, filetb,[nb 12][6] flambé,[nb 13] frappé, fricandeau, frontier, garageaB2,[nb 14] gâteau, glacé, gourmetA2, lamé[nb 15], massif, massage, matinée, métier, mirageB2, negligeeA2, névé, nonchalantbA2, nondescript, nouveau, parfait, parquet*b, pastelbB2, pastilleb,[nb 16] pâté,[nb 17] pension,[nb 18] pissoir, plateau, précisA2, protégébB2,[nb 19][8] purée, rentier, risqué, roué, rouleau, sachet, salona, sauté, savantabA2, soirée, solfège,[9] sorbeta,[nb 20][10] sortie, soufflé, soupçon,[11] tableau, tonneau, touché, toupée, triage, trousseau, vaccine, valet, vermouthB2.

Also some French names, including: Argand,[nb 21] Avignona[nb 22][12] Beauvoir,[nb 23][13] Bizet,[nb 24][14] Calais,[nb 25][15] Cartier,[nb 26][16] Chardonnay,[nb 27][17] Chopin,[nb 28][18] Citroën,[nb 29] Degas,[nb 30][19] Depardieu,[nb 31][20] Dijon,[nb 32][21] Dumas,[nb 33][22] Flaubert,[nb 34][23] Gerard,[nb 35][24] Lyon,[nb 36][25] Manet,[nb 37][26] Massenet,[nb 38] Maurice,[nb 39][27] Millais,[nb 40][28] Molière,[nb 41][29] Monet,[nb 42][30] Perpignan,[nb 43][31] Peugeot,[nb 44] Piaf,[nb 45][32] Poitiers,[nb 46][33] Poussin,[nb 47][34] Rabelais,[nb 48][35] Renaulta,[nb 49][36] Rimbaud,[nb 50][37] Roget,[nb 51][38] Rouen,[nb 52][39] Satie,[nb 53][40] Seurat,[nb 54][41] Thoreau,[nb 55][42] Valois,[nb 56][43] Vouvray,[nb 57][44] Watteau.[nb 58][45]

last 1st addressbA1(noun), cigarette, esquireb*A2, magazineA2, tiradeA2, ((bi)p)artisana.B1/2[nb 59]

Also some French names, including: Dunkirk.

2nd last accouchement, arrondissement, attaché, charivari, consomméa, cor anglaisB2, décolleté, déclassé, démodé,[46] dénouement, divertissement,[nb 60] distingué, escargot, exposé, fiancé(e)A2,[nb 61] financier, portmanteau, rapprochement, retroussé, sommelier.

Also some French names, including: Debussyb, Dubonneta, Montpellier, Parmentier, Piaget, Rambouillet.

Verbs ending in -ate

Most 2-syllable verbs ending -ate have first-syllable stress in AmE and second-syllable stress in BrE. This includes castrate, collate, cremateA2,[47] curate, dictateA2, donateA2, frustrate, gradate, gyrate, hydrate, locateA2, migrate, mutate, narratebA2, phonate, placatebB2, prostrate, pulsate, rotate, serrateA2, spectate, stagnate, striate,[48] translateA2, truncate, vacateb*A2,[49] vibrateA2. Examples where AmE and BrE match include conflate, create, debate, equate, elate, inflate, negate; and mandate and probate with first-syllable stress. Derived nouns in -ator retains the distinction, but those in -ation do not. Also, migratoryB2[50] and vibratoryB2[51] sometimes retain the distinction.

Most longer -ate verbs are pronounced the same in AmE and BrE, but a few have first-syllable stress in BrE and second-syllable stress in AmE: elongateaA2, impregnate, inculcate, inculpate, infiltrateA2, remonstrateabA2,[52] sequestrate, tergiversateaA1[nb 62].[53] For some derived adjectives ending -atory stress-shifting to -a(tory)- occurs in BrE. Among these cases are celebratorya[54] (BrE: /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪtəri/), compensatorya,[55] participatorya,[56] regulatoryaB1.[57] AmE stresses the same syllable as the corresponding -ate verb (except compensatory, where AmE stresses the second syllable). A further -atory difference is laboratoryB2: AmE /ˈlæbərətɔːri/ and BrE /ləˈbɒrətəri/.[58]

Miscellaneous stress

There are a number of cases where same-spelled noun, verb and/or adjective have uniform stress in one dialect but distinct stress in the other (e.g. alternate, prospect): see initial-stress-derived noun.

The following table lists words not brought up in the discussion so far where the main difference between AmE and BrE is in stress. Usually, it also follows a reduction of the unstressed vowel. Words marked with subscript A or B are exceptions to this, and thus retains a full vowel in the (relatively) unstressed syllable of AmE or BrE. A subsequent asterisk, *, means that the full vowel is usually retained; a preceding * means that the full vowel is sometimes retained.

Words with other points of difference are listed in a later table.

BrE AmE words with relevant syllable stressed in each dialect[1]
1st 2nd AdonaiAB2, adultBAB2, albumen/albumin, aristocrat, Bernard, cerebral/cerebrumA2, complex (adj.), converseA2(adj.),[59] illustrativeA2, miniscule/minuscule, Mosul, omegaA, patinaA1, perfume (noun), pianistAB2, sitar, sojourn (verb), stalactiteA2, stalagmiteA2, SuezA2*, thanksgivingABB2, transferenceAA2, travail, UlyssesA
2nd 1st accent (verb), alternate (adj.), ancillaryB, archangelB1, Argyle, AugustineBA2, Azores, backfire (verb), baptize, Baghdad, Balthazar, capillary, capsize, catenary, (bi/quin/quater)centenaryB2, circulatory, controversyB1, Corfu, corollary, defence/offenseAA2(sports only), deficitB1,[nb 63] enquiry/inquiryAA2, fritillary,[nb 64] Galbraith, guffawA1,[nb 65][60] Hong Kong, Mardi Gras, marshmallowAB,[nb 66] maxillary, medullary,[nb 67] miscellany,[nb 68] obligatory, patronal, predicative, pretence/pretenseAA1, princess*AA2, prospect (verb), recluse, recourse, research (noun), respiratory, saxophonistBB2, spinet, spread(-)eagledAB,[61] Stonehenge, stonewall, substratumABA2, tracheaAB2, wastepaper, waylay, weekendABB2, Zoroaster
1st 3rd opportuneABB2, wolverine
3rd 1st Bucharest, Budapest, disciplinary, furthermore, h(a)emoglobinAB, manganese, manateeB2, margarineB, PakistanA2,[62] Panama, PyreneesAB, Singapore, stewardessB2
2nd 3rd submarinerA2, Yom KippurB2
3rd 2nd aboveboard, arytenoidA1, centrifugalB2, chimpanzee, obscurantismABA2[63]
4th 1st manageress

Affixes

-ary, -ery, -ory, -mony, -ative, -bury, -berry

Where the syllable preceding the suffixes -ary, -ery, -ory, -mony or -ative is unstressed, AmE pronounces the penultimate syllable with a full vowel sound: /-ɛri/ for -ary and -ery, /-ɔːri/ for -ory, /-moʊni/ for -mony and /-eɪtɪv/ -ative. BrE reduces the vowel to a schwa or even elides it completely: [-əri] or [-ri] (hereafter transcribed as /-əri/ in diaphonemic transcription), /-məni/ and /-ətɪv/. So military is AmE /ˈmɪlətɛri/ and BrE /ˈmɪlɪtəri/,[64] inventory is AmE /ˈɪnvəntɔːri/ and BrE /ˈɪnvəntəri/,[65] testimony is AmE /ˈtɛstəmoʊni/ and BrE /ˈtɛstɪməni/[66] and innovative is AmE /ˈɪnoʊveɪtɪv/ or /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/ and BrE /ˈɪnəvətɪv/.[67] (The elision is avoided in carefully enunciated speech, especially with endings -rary,-rery,-rory.)

Where the syllable preceding -ary, -ery, -ory, -mony or -ative is stressed however, AmE also usually reduces the vowel: /-əri/, /-məni/. Exceptions include library,[68] primaryA2,[69] rosemary.[70] (Pronouncing library as /ˈlaɪbɛri/ rather than /ˈlaɪbrɛri/ is stigmatized in the United States, for example as associated with African-American Vernacular English,[71] whereas in BrE, /ˈlaɪbri/ is common in rapid or casual speech.)

The suffix -berry is pronounced by similar rules, except that in BrE it may be full /-bɛri/ after an unstressed syllable, while in AmE it is usually full in all cases. Thus we have strawberry: BrE /ˈstrɔːbəri/, AmE /ˈstrɔːbɛri/, and whortleberry: BrE/AmE /ˈhwɔːrtəlbɛri/.

The placename component -bury (e.g. Canterbury) has a similar difference: AmE has a full vowel: /-bɛri/ where BrE has a reduced one: /-bəri/.

Note that stress differences between the dialects occur with some words ending in -atory (listed above) and a few others like capillary (included in #Miscellaneous stress above).

Formerly the BrE–AmE distinction for adjectives carried over to corresponding adverbs ending -arily, -erily or -orily. However, nowadays some BrE speakers adopt the AmE practice of shifting the stress to the penultimate syllable: militarily is thus sometimes /ˌmɪlɪˈtɛrɪli/ rather than /ˈmɪlɪtərəli/, and necessarily is in BrE either /ˈnɛsəsərɪli/ or /ˌnɛsəˈsɛrɪli/.[72]

-ile

Words ending in unstressed -ile derived from Latin adjectives ending -ilis are mostly pronounced with a full vowel in BrE /aɪl/ but a reduced vowel or syllabic L in AmE /əl/ (e.g. fertile rhymes with fur tile in BrE but with furtle in AmE).

AmE will (unlike BrE, except when indicated withB2) have a reduced last vowel:

  • generally in facile, (in)fertile, fissile, fragile, missile, stabile (adjective), sterile, tensile, versatile, virile, volatile
  • usually in agile, decile, ductile,[73] futile, hostile, juvenile, (im)mobile (adjective & phone), puerile, tactile
  • rarely in domicileB2,[nb 69] erectile, infantile, nubile, pensile, percentile, projectile,[74] reptile, senile,[nb 70] servile, textile, utile[75]
  • never in crocodile, exile, gentile, reconcile; nor to compounds of monosyllables (e.g. turnstile from stile)

In some words the pronunciation /iːl/ also comes into play:

  • BrE /aɪl/, AmE /iːl/: c(h)amomileAB2, mercantileA2, mobile/stabile (decorations)
  • BrE /aɪl/, AmE /ɪl/ or /əl/: motile, prehensile, pulsatile, tractile
  • BrE /iːl/, AmE /ɪl/ or /əl/: imbecile
  • BrE /ɪl/, AmE /iːl/: rutile (BrE, AmE also /aɪl/)[76]

Related endings -ility, -ilize, -iliary are pronounced the same in AmE as BrE.

di-

The pronunciation of the vowel of the prefix di- in words such as dichotomy, digest (verb), dilate, dilemma, dilute, diluvial, dimension, direct, dissect, disyllable, divagate, diverge, diverse, divert, divest, and divulge as well as their derivational forms vary between /aɪ/ and /ɪ/ or /ə/ in both British and American English.[77]:237

-ine

The suffix -ine,[9] when unstressed, is pronounced sometimes /aɪn/ (e.g. feline), sometimes /iːn/ (e.g. morphine) and sometimes /ɪn/ (e.g. medicine). Some words have variable pronunciation within BrE, or within AmE, or between BrE and AmE. Generally, AmE is more likely to favor /iːn/ or /ɪn/, and BrE to favor /aɪn/.

BrE /aɪn/, AmE (1) /iːn/: carbineA2, FlorentineA2, internecineA2, philistineA2, pristineB2[nb 71], salineA2, serpentineA2.

BrE /aɪn/, AmE (1) /iːn/ (2) /ɪn/: adamantineA2.

BrE /aɪn/, AmE /ɪn/: uterineB2.

BrE /aɪn/, AmE (1) /ɪn/ (2) /aɪn/ (3) /iːn/: crystalline, labyrinthine.[78]

BrE (1) /iːn/, AmE (1) /aɪn/ (2) /ɪn/: strychnineA2.

Effects of the weak vowel merger

The weak vowel merger causes affixes such as -ate (as in climate), be- (before a consonant), de- (as in decide), -ed (with a sounded vowel), -es (with a sounded vowel), -est, -less, -ness, pre- (as in prepare) and re- (before a consonant) to be pronounced with the schwa /ə/ (the a in about), rather than the unstressed /ɪ/ (found in the second syllable of locksmith). Conservative RP uses /ɪ/ in each case, so that before, waited, roses and faithless are pronounced /bɪˈfɔːr, ˈweɪtɪd, ˈroʊzɪz, ˈfeɪθlɪs/, rather than /bəˈfɔːr, ˈweɪtəd, ˈroʊzəz, ˈfeɪθləs/, which are more usual in General American. The pronunciations with /ə/ are gaining ground in RP and in the case of certain suffixes (such as -ate and -less) have become the predominant variants. The noun carelessness is pronounced /ˈkɛərləsnəs/ in GA and modern RP and /ˈkɛərlɪsnɪs/ in conservative RP. This variation is denoted with the symbol ⟨ᵻ⟩ in some of the dictionaries published by Oxford University Press and in the Routledge Dictionary of Pronunciation of Current English. In the latter, the British pronunciation of climate is transcribed ⟨ˈklʌɪmᵻt⟩, though carelessness is transcribed ⟨ˈkɛːləsnəs⟩.

Affixes such as dis-, in-, -ing and mis- contain /ɪ/ in conservative RP as well as General American and Modern RP, so that words such as disloyal or teaching are phonemically /dɪsˈlɔɪəl/ and /ˈtiːtʃɪŋ/ in all three varieties.

The suffix -ist is pronounced /-ɪst/ in RP and /-əst/ in GA. The latter pronunciation is considered to be non-RP, so that machinist is pronounced /məˈʃiːnɪst/ in RP and /məˈʃiːnəst/ in GA.

Weak forms

The title Saint before a person's name has a weak form in BrE but not AmE: before vowels, /sənt/.[79]

Miscellaneous pronunciation differences
Entry for "Herb" from Walker's Critical Pronouncing Dictionary, (London: Tegg, 1833), showing pronunciation without /h/

These tables list words pronounced differently but spelled the same. See also the table of words with different pronunciation reflected in the spelling.

Single differences

Words with multiple points of difference of pronunciation are in the table after this one. Accent-based differences are ignored. For example, Moscow is RP /ˈmɒskoʊ/ and GAm /ˈmɒskaʊ/, but only the /oʊ/–/aʊ/ difference is highlighted here, since both the presence of a contrastive /ɒ/ vowel in RP (which falls together with /ɑː/ in GA) and the RP use of [əʊ] rather than [oʊ] are predictable from the accent. Also, tiara is listed with AmE /æ/; the marry–merry–Mary merger changes this vowel for many Americans.

Many sources omit the length marks in transcriptions of AmE, so that words such as father or keep are transcribed /ˈfɑðər/ and /ˈkip/ rather than /ˈfɑːðər/ and /ˈkiːp/. Even though it is not phonemic, vowel length in GA works in a very similar manner to RP, so this is mainly a difference in transcription.

A2 means that American speakers may also use the British pronunciation;B2 means that British speakers may also use the American pronunciation.

BrEAmEWords
/ɑː//æ/Excluding words changed by the trap–bath split,[80] (which affects most southern British speakers and almost no American speakers): banana, cabana, choraleA2, ColoradoA2, cycloramaA2, dioramaA2, Internationale, khakiA2, localeA2, mascara, morale, musicale, NevadaA2,[nb 72][81] pajama(s)A2, PakistaniAB2, panoramaA2, pastorale, plaqueB2, rale, rationale, SaharaA2, sarsaparilla, scenarioA2, sopranoA2, SudanB2, sultana, tiaraA2
/æ//ɑː/"A" in the anglicised pronunciation of many foreign names and loanwords,[82] e.g.: angstA2, AnkaraA2, aquaA2, Ariosto, Asti, Baku, Balaton, Basra, Białystok, Bratislava, camaraderie, CaracasB2, Carpaccio, CasablancaA2, Casals, caveatA2, Cézanne,[nb 73] chiantiA2, Chiapas, dacha, Dachau, d'Annunzio, Delgado, Dushanbe, Francesca, goulashA2, grappa, Gulag, hacienda, Haryana, Kafka, Kampala, kampong, kanji, Kant, kebab,[83] Las (placenames, e.g. Las Vegas)A2, lasagnaB2, latteB2, Lausanne, macho, mafia, MannA2, Mascagni, MilanA2, Mohammed, MombasaA2, Pablo PicassoA2, paparazzo, paso doble, pasta, patioA2, pilaff, quattrocento, Rachmaninoff, rallentandoA2, ravioliA2, regattaA2, samizdat, sanitaire, SlovakA2, squacco, Sri LankaA2, taco, tagliatelle, trattoria, tzatziki, Uganda, Vivaldi, wigwam, Wuhan, Yerevan
/ɑː//eɪ/charade, cicadaA2, galaAB2,[nb 74] graveA2(accent), pralineB2,[84] stratumB2,[nb 75][9] tomatoA2
/eɪ//ɑː/agave, swathe
/æ//eɪ/Adolf, basilA2(plant), canineB2, granary, (im)placable, macronA2, pal(a)eo-, patronise/-izeA2, (com/un)patriot(ic)B2, (ex/re)patriate/-ationB2, phalanxA2, plaitA2, Sabine, satrapA2, satyrA2[9]
/eɪ//æ/apparatusA2, apricotA2, babel, comrade, dahlia,[nb 76] dataA2, digitalisA2, gratisB2, patentB2, rabidAB2, statusA2[9]
/æ/B2/ɒ/twat
/ɒ//æ/quagmireB2,[85] scallopAB2, wrath[nb 77]
/ɔː/B2/oʊ/A2Xhosa
/oʊ//ɔː/ or /ɒ/sloth, trothA2, wontA2, wrothB2
/ɔː//ɑː/A2schmaltz(y)
/æ//ɔː/asphalt
/ɒ//ɔː/Excluding words changed by the lot-cloth split: alcoholA2, atollA2, AustinB2, gnocchiA2,[nb 78] oratoryA2, parasolA2, sausage,[86]
/ɔː//ɒ/A2leprechaun[87]
/ɔː(l)/ or /ɒl/[9][88]/æl/A2falcon
/iː//ɛ/Aesculapius, Aeschylus, (a)esthete/-ticB2,[89] an(a)esthetist/-ize, amenityB2,[90] breveA2, D(a)edalus, eco-A2, ecumenicalB2, epochalB2,[91] esotericB2,[92] evolutionB2, h(a)emo-A2, Hephaestus, hygienicA2,[nb 79] KenyaB2, lever(age)A2, methaneB2, OedipusA2, (o)estrogenB2,[93] (o)estrusB2,[94] p(a)edophile, penalizeA2, Ph(a)edrus, predecessorA2, predilectionA2, pyrethrinA2, qu(a)estor, schizophreniaA2, Semite, senileA2, systemic
/ɛ//iː/crematoriumA2, cretin, depotA2, fetidB2, hedonism/-ist(ic), leisureA2, presentationA2, reconnoit(re/er)A2, zebraB2
/iː//eɪ/beta, eta, gazeboA2, heinousB2, Mekong, quayA2, reparteeA2, theta, zeta
/eɪ//iː/detourB2, HeleneA2
/i/B2/eɪ/Zimbabwe
/eɪ//i/Haggai,[95] IsraelA2
/ɛ//eɪ/ateB2, étui, mêléeA2,[9] presa
/eɪ//ɛ/again(st)B2, cortègeB2, nonpareil[9]
/ɒ//ʌ/coloratura, hoverA2, Somme. Also the strong forms of these function words: (every/some/no/any)bodyA2, from, of, was, whatA2
/ʌ//ɒ/accomplice/-ishB2, colanderB2, conjureA2, constableB2, monetaryA2, -mongerA2
/ɒ//oʊ/adios, Aeroflot, ayatollah, Barbados, baroqueB2,[96] BoccheriniA2, Bogotá,[nb 80] cognacA2, compost, doldrumsA2, dolor/dolour, groschen, grossoA2, homo-B2, Interpol, Lod, mocha, olfactoryA2, Pinocchio, pogrom, polkaB2, produce (noun)A2, professorialA2, prophy-(lactic/laxis), realpolitikA2, riposte, Rosh HashanahA2, sconeAB2, shone, solsticeA2, Sonia,[97] TolstoyA2, trollB2, yogurtB2.[98] Also, in general, Greek-derived names of places, people, or ideas that end in "-os", for example, ErosA2, ethos,[nb 81] Helios, logos (singular)A2, mythos, pathos,[nb 82] etc.; although chaos follows the British norm in both countries.
/oʊ//ɒ/Adonis, codicilB2,[99] codifyA2, goffer, ogleA2, processA2(noun), projectB2(noun)
/ɪ//aɪ/dynasty, hibiscus, housewifery,[91] idyll, italicA2, pipette, privacyB2,[100] simultaneousA2, sinecure, tinnitus, totalizator, tricolo(u)rB2,[101] trimester, Tyrolean, vitaminB2. See also -ine.
/aɪ//ɪ/butylB2, condyle, cyclic(al)B2, doctrinal, finance/-ialAB2, forsythia, -isation/-izationA2, kinesis/-ticB2, Minotaur, primer (schoolbook), Pythagoras, subsidence/-ent, synapseB2, umbilicalB2. See also -ine.[9]
/aɪ//eɪ/Isaiah
/aɪ//iː/(n)eitherAB2,[nb 83] Pleiades, viaA2. See also -ine.
/iː//aɪ/albino, geyser, migraineB2, oblique (verb)[nb 84]. See also -ine.
/aɪ/B2/i/symbiosis/-tic
/i//aɪ/A2In the prefixes anti-, multi-, semi- in loose compounds (e.g. in anti-establishment, but not in antidote)
/iː//ɪ/beenB2,[102] cliqueA2, creekA2 mainstream, invalid (noun), prima
/ɪ//iː/aphrodisiac, Biarritz, bulimia, memorabilia, pi(t)taB2, prestigiousA2, tricot
/ɛ//ɑː/enclave, envoi/-voy
/æ//ɛ/A2femme fatale, pall-mall[nb 85][9]
/aʊ//uː/A2nous
/ʊ//ɪ/kümmel
/ʊ//uː/Buddha, cuckoo, Düsseldorf, Gutiérrez, guru, Ljubljana, Mussolini
/uː//ʊ/boogie-woogie, boulevard,[103] hoofA2, roofAB2, rootA2, snooker, woofA2 (weaving)
/uː//ə/ferrule, fortune
/ʊr//ɜːr/A2courier
/ʊ/ or /uː/B2/ʌ/brusque
/ə//ʌ/surplus
/ʌ/B2/(j)uː/cumin
/uː/[nb 86][104]/aʊ/A2(re)route(r)
/oʊ//uː/broochA2, provenB2
/uː//oʊ/cantaloup(e), hecatomb
/ʌ//oʊ/plover
/oʊ//aʊ/A2Moscow
/ər//ɑːr/A2Madagascar
/ɑːr//ɜːr/Berkeley, Berkshire, Cherwell, clerk, derby, Hertford(shire). (The only AmE word with ⟨er⟩ = /ɑːr/ is sergeant.)
/ɜːr//ɛər/A2err
/ɛər/B2/ɜːr/Ernst
/ɛr//ɜːr/A2deterrent
/ɛər//ɪər/A2ampere
/ɛr//ɪər/A2inherent
/ɪər//ɛr/A2coherent, era, hysteria
/ɜːr//ɪər/Irkutsk
/ɪr//ɜːr/chirrupA2, squirrel, stirrupA2, syrupA2
/ɜːr//ɔːr/A2whorl
/ɔːr//ər/acornA2,[105] record (noun), the weak form of or (occasional in RP)
/ər//ɔːr/metaphor, Westmor(e)land
/ə//ɒ/Amazon, anacoluthon, automatonA2, Avon, capon, crampon, crayonA2, Lebanon, lexicon, marathon, (m)ascot, melancholy,[106] myrmidon, OregonA2, pantechnicon, paragon, Parthenon, phenomenon, pylon, python, Rubicon, saffronA2, siliconA2, wainscot. Also any geometric shapes ending in "-agon"; for example, hexagon, octagon, pentagon, polygon, etc.
/ɒ//ə/AesopA2 mainstream, Amos, condom, despot, EnochA2, ingot, mosquito, sombrero, Winthrop
/ɒ//ɛ/röntgen, Stendhal
/ə//ɛ/accent (noun), nonsense
/ɛ//ə/congress, Kentucky, parallelepiped[107]
/ɪ//ɛ/despicableA2 mainstream, WinchesterB2
/ɪ//eɪ/Ceylon
/ɪ//ə/Some of the words affected by the weak vowel merger: carpet, Martin, rabbit, etc. The merger also creates weak forms of words such as in and it which are non-RP.
/ɪ/B2/ə/A2Some of the words affected by the weak vowel merger: impetigo, orange, Semitic, etc. See also effects of the weak vowel merger.
/ə//æ/baboonA2, bassoonA2, CapriA2, fastidiousAB2, nasturtiumA2, papooseA2, platoonA2, raccoon, taboo, tattoo, toucan, trapeze
/ə//eɪ/DraconianA2, hurricaneB2, legislature, satanic. Also, longer words ending in -ative.
/eɪ//ə/entrailsA2, magistrateA2 mainstream, portrait, template[108]
/eɪ//ər/A2foyer
/ɜː//ɛ/Göttingen
/ɜː//eɪ/föhn, Göthe
/ɜː//oʊ/Schönberg
/ɜː//ʊ/ or /uː/bleu, œuvre
/ə//ɔː/Mauritius
/ə//oʊ/anchovy, borough, thorough, varicose, volitionA2. Also place names that end in "-burgh", such as EdinburghA2 and surnames ending in -stone, e.g. Johnstone (see also -ory and -mony). Words prefixed with an unstressed "pro-"A2, with the exceptions of process, progress and project (noun), commonly use either pronunciation in American English; for example, probation, procedure, prohibit, proliferate, prolific, Prometheus, prophetic, propinquity, prorogation, protest (verb), protract, protrude, protuberance/-ant, and Provence.
/juː//uː/Excluding words altered by the yod-dropping phenomenon: barracuda, culotte, pumaA2
/uː//juː/couponA2, fuchsine, HoustonB2
/ju//w/conduit,[nb 87] iguanaB2,[109] jaguar, unguent
/ər//jər/A2figure (verb)
/ʊ//jʊ/eruditeA2,[110] purulent, virulenceB2
/jʊ//ʊ/duress, Kuwait, résuméA2[111]
/jʊər/B2/ʊər/Excluding words altered by the yod-dropping phenomenon: Honduras
/ɑː/[nb 88]/ət/nougat
/oʊ//ɒt/A2Huguenot
/ɜːr//ʊər/A2connoisseur, entrepreneur, masseur
/ʊər//ɜːr/A2tournament
/ɜːz//uːs/Betelgeuse, chanteuse, chartreuseA2, masseuse
/z//s/AussieA2, blouse (noun), blouson, complaisantA2, citizen(ry/ship),AB2 crescentB2, dextrose, diagnoseA2, erase, fuselageA2, mimosa, netizen(ry/ship),AB2 parse, ruseA2, talisman, treatise, valise, venisonB2, visaA2,[112] xylose
/s//z/asthma, chromosomeA2
/ts//z/piazzaA2, schnauzer, terrazzo
/ks//z/xi
/ksj/B2 mainstream/kʃ/sexual
/kʃ//ɡʒ/luxury
/ʃ//ʒ/AsiaB2, cashmere, PersiaB2, (as/dis)persionA2, (ex/in)cursionB2, (im/sub)mersion, (a/con/di/in/per/re)versionA2
/ʒ//ʃ/erasure
/ɡ//dʒ/Elgin, hegemony
/dʒ/B2/tʃ/sandwich,[113] spinach
/tʃ//dʒ/Chou (en Lai)
/tʃ//ʃ/A2braggadocio
/ʃ//tʃ/chassis
/si//ʃ/cassiaA2, CassiusA2, DionysiusA2,[114] hessian, Lucius, (ne/omni/pre)scient/-ence, Theodosius
/zi/ or /si//zi/, /ʒ/, or /ʃ/nausea,[115] transient[116]
/zi//ʒ/artesian, Elysian, Frisian, Frasier, glazier, grazier, hosiery, Indonesia, Malaysia, Parisian, Polynesia, Rabelaisian
/di//dʒi/cordial(ity)
/ti//tʃi/besti(al/ary), celestial[117]
/ti//ʃ/consortiumB2,[118] otiose, ratiocinate, sentientB2[119]
/ʃ/B2[120]/sk/schedule
/iːʃ/B2/ɪtʃ/A2niche
/ð//θ/bequeath, boothB2, loath(ful/ly/some)A2, smithyA2, withA2
/t/B2/θ/Anthony
/t//d/A2Excluding words changed by flapping (sometimes described as the /t–d/ merger): Taoism
/kw//k/conquistador
/k/B2/kw/questionnaire
/v/B2[nb 89]/f/nephew
(sounded)(silent)Excluding words changed by nasal flapping: bona fideA2, chthonicB2,[91][122] coupé (vehicle), diaper, furore, herbA2,[123] KnossosB2,[124] phthisisB2, ricochet, salveA2,[125] solder, (un)toward(s)A2(prep.), B2, vaudeville
(silent)(sounded)Excluding words changed by non-rhoticity: geo- (as in geography, geometry, etc.)B2, medicineB2, Nantes, oldeAB2, physiognomy, schismB2 mainstream, Singhalese, suggestA2,[9] traitB2, Valenciennes, vehicleA2 mainstream, Warwick(shire). See also -ary -ery -ory -bury, -berry.

    Multiple differences
    Spelling BrE IPA AmE IPA Notes
    advertisement /ədˈvɜːrtɪsmənt/ /ˌædvərˈtaɪzmənt/ Older Americans may use the British pronunciation, and some British dialects use the American pronunciation.
    agent provocateur /ˌæʒɒ̃ prəˌvɒkəˈtɜːr/ /ˌɑːʒɒ̃ proʊˌvɒkəˈtʊər/  
    Ajaccio /əˈdʒæ(k)sioʊ/ /ɑːˈjɑːtʃ(i)oʊ/ BrE approximates more to French [aʒaksjo]; AmE reflects the word's Italian origin [aˈjattʃo].
    Algarve (1) /ælˈɡɑːrv/
    (2) /ˈælɡɑːrv/    		 /ɑːlˈɡɑːrvə/ The original Portuguese pronunciation is [alˈɡaɾvɨ].
    Aloysius /ˌæloʊˈɪʃəs/ /ˌæləˈwɪʃəs/  
    aluminium/aluminum /ˌæljʊˈmɪniəm/ /əˈljuːmɪnəm/ BrE is spelled aluminium & pronounced /ˌæljʊˈmɪniəm/. In AmE the word is usually spelled aluminum & pronounced /əˈljuːmɪnəm/.
    amateur (1) /ˈæmətər/
    (2) /ˌæməˈtɜːr/    		 (1) /ˈæmətʃər/
    (2) /ˈæmətjʊər/    		  
    amortise/amortize /əˈmɔːrtaɪz/ /ˈæmərtaɪz/ BrE uses two spellings & pronounced /əˈmɔːrtaɪz/. In AmE the word is usually spelled amortize & pronounced /ˈæmərtaɪz/.
    amphitheater/amphitheatre /ˈæmfɪθiːətər/ /ˈæmfəθiːtər/ BrE is spelled amphitheatre & pronounced /ˈæmfɪθiːətər/. In AmE the word is usually spelled amphitheater & pronounced /ˈæmfəθiːtər/.
    appliqué /əˈpliːkeɪ/ (1) /ˈæplɪkeɪ/
    (2) /ˌæplɪˈkeɪ/    		  
    atelier /əˈtɛlieɪ/ (1) /ˈætəljeɪ/
    (2) /ˌætəlˈjeɪ/    		  
    avoirdupois /ˌævwɑːrdjuːˈpwɑː/ /ˌævərdəˈpɔɪz/  
    banalA2 /bəˈnɑːl/ /ˈbeɪnəl/  
    basalt /ˈbæsɔːlt/ (1) /bəˈsɔːlt/
    (2) /ˈbeɪsɔːlt/    		  
    bitumen /ˈbɪtjʊmɪn/ /baɪˈtjuːmən/  
    Boccaccio /bəˈkætʃioʊ/ /boʊˈkɑːtʃioʊ/ The original Italian pronunciation is [bokˈkattʃo].
    böhmite (1) /ˈbɜːmaɪt/
    (2) /ˈboʊmaɪt/    		 (1) /ˈbeɪmaɪt/
    (2) /ˈboʊmaɪt/    		 The first pronunciations approximate German [øː] (spelled ⟨ö⟩ or ⟨oe⟩); the second ones are anglicized.
    bœuf /bɜːf/ (1) /bʊf/
    (2) /bʌf/
    (3) /boʊf/    		 The original French pronunciation is [bœf].
    Bokmål /ˈbuːkmɔːl/ (1) /ˈbʊkmɔːl/
    (2) /ˈboʊkmɔːl/    		  
    bolognaise/bolognese /ˌbɒləˈneɪz/ /ˌboʊlənˈjeɪz/ BrE uses two spellings & pronounced /ˌbɒləˈneɪz/. In AmE the word is usually spelled bolognese & pronounced /ˌboʊlənˈjeɪz/.
    bouquet (1) /buːˈkeɪ/
    (2) /ˈbuːkeɪ/    		 (1) /buːˈkeɪ/
    (2) /boʊˈkeɪ/    		  
    boyar (1) /ˈbɔɪɑːr/
    (2) /ˈboʊjɑːr/    		 (1) /boʊˈjɑːr/
    (2) /ˈbɔɪər/    		  
    buoyA2 /ˈbɔɪ/ /ˈbuːi/ The British pronunciation occurs in America more commonly for the verb than the noun; still more in derivatives buoyant, buoyancy & lifebuoy.
    Burkina Faso /bɜːrˈkiːnəˈfæsoʊ/ /bʊərˈkiːnəˈfɑːsoʊ/  
    Byzantine /baɪˈzæntaɪn/ /ˈbɪzəntiːn/  
    canton /kænˈtuːn/ (1) /kænˈtɒn/
    (2) /kænˈtoʊn/    		 difference is only in military sense "to quarter soldiers"
    other senses can have stress on either syllable in both countries.
    caramelA2 /ˈkærəməl/ (1) /ˈkɑːrməl/
    (2) /ˈkærəmɛl/    		  
    carburettor/carburetor (1) /ˌkɑːrbjʊˈrɛtər/
    (2) /ˈkɑːrbərɛtər/    		 /ˈkɑːrbəreɪtər/ BrE is spelled carburettor & pronounced /ˌkɑːrbjʊˈrɛtər/ or /ˈkɑːrbərɛtər/. In AmE the word is usually spelled carburetor & pronounced /ˈkɑːrbəreɪtər/.
    CaribbeanA2 /ˌkærɪˈbiːən/ /kəˈrɪbiən/ Some Americans use the British pronunciation, whereas some British dialects use the American pronunciation.
    cervicalB2 /sərˈvaɪkəl/ /ˈsɜːrvɪkəl/  
    cheong sam /ˈtʃɒŋˈsæm/ /tʃeɪˈɔːŋˈsɑːm/  
    clientele /ˌkliːɒnˈtɛl/ /ˌklaɪənˈtɛl/  
    cloisonné (1) /klwɑːˈzɒneɪ/
    (2) /klwʌˈzɒneɪ/    		 /ˌklɔɪzəˈneɪ/ The original French pronunciation is [klwazɔne].
    combatant /ˈkɒmbətənt/ /kəmˈbætənt/  
    combativeB2 (1) /ˈkɒmbətɪv/
    (2) /ˈkʌmbətɪv/    		 /kəmˈbætɪv/  
    communalB2 /ˈkɒmjʊnəl/ /kəˈmjuːnəl/  
    composite /ˈkɒmpəzɪt/ /kəmˈpɒzɪt/  
    corral /kɒˈrɑːl/ /kəˈræl/  
    cosmosA2[126] /ˈkɒzmɒs/ (1) /ˈkɒzmoʊs/
    (2) /ˈkɒzməs/    		  
    dachshund (1) /ˈdæksənd/
    (2) /ˈdæʃənd/
    (3) /ˈdækshʊnd/    		 /ˈdɑːkshʊnd/  
    Dante (1) /ˈdænti/
    (2) /ˈdænteɪ/    		 /ˈdɑːnteɪ/  
    dilettante (1) /ˌdɪlɪˈtænti/
    (2) /ˌdɪlɪˈtænteɪ/    		 (1) /ˈdɪlətɑːnt/
    (2) /ˌdɪləˈtɑːnt/    		 BrE reflects the word's Italian origin; AmE approximates more to French.
    divisiveA2 /ˈdɪˈvaɪsɪv/ /ˈdɪˈvɪzɪv/  
    docile /ˈdoʊsaɪl/ /ˈdɒsəl/  
    Don Quixote /ˈdɒn ˈkwɪksət/ /ˌdɒn kiˈhoʊteɪ/ Compare to Spanish [doŋ kiˈxote]
    epochA2 /ˈiːpɒk/ /ˈɛpək/  
    epsilon /ɛpˈsaɪlən/ /ˈɛpsɪlɒn/  
    expletiveB2 /ɪkˈspliːtɪv/ /ˈɛksplətɪv/  
    febrileA2[127] /ˈfiːbraɪl/ (1) /ˈfɛbriːl/
    (2) /ˈfɛbrəl/    		 The BrE pronunciation occurs in AmE
    foreheadAB2 /ˈfɒrɪd/ /ˈfɔːrhɛd/  
    fracas /ˈfrækɑː/ (1) /ˈfreɪkəs/
    (2) /ˈfrækəs/
    (3) /frəˈkɑː/    		 The BrE plural is French fracas /ˈfrækɑːz/. For AmE examples (1) and (2), the plural is anglicized fracases
    fusillade /ˌfjuːzɪˈleɪd/ /ˌfjuːsəˈlɑːd/  
    Galápagos /ɡəˈlæpəɡɒs/ /ɡəˈlɑːpəɡoʊs/  
    glacier (1) /ˈɡlæsiər/
    (2) /ˈɡleɪsiər/    		 /ˈɡleɪʃər/  
    harem (1) /ˈhɑːriːm/
    (2) /hɑːˈriːm/    		 /ˈhærəm/  
    holocaustA2 /ˈhɒləkɔːst/ (1) /ˈhoʊləkɔːst/
    (2) /ˈhɔːləkɔːst/    		  
    impasse (1) /æmˈpɑːs/
    (2) /ˈæmpɑːs/    		 (1) /ˈɪmpæs/
    (2) /ɪmˈpæs/    		  
    IranA2 /ɪˈrɑːn/ /aɪˈræn/  
    IraqA2 /ɪˈrɑːk/ /aɪˈræk/  
    jalousie (1) /ˌʒælʊˈziː/
    (2) /ˈʒælʊziː/    		 /ˈdʒæləsi/  
    junta /ˈdʒʌntə/ /ˈhʊntə/ The BrE pronunciation is anglicized; the AmE is Spanish.
    kudos /ˈkjuːdɒs/ /ˈkuːdoʊs/  
    Lanzarote /ˌlænzəˈrɒti/ /ˌlɑːntsəˈroʊti/  
    lapsang souchong /ˌlæpsæŋ suːˈʃɒŋ/ /ˌlɑːpsɑːŋ ˈsuːʃɒŋ/  
    lieutenantB2 (1) /lɛfˈtɛnənt/
    (2) /ləˈtɛnənt/    		 /luːˈtɛnənt/ The 2nd British pronunciation is restricted to the Royal Navy. Standard Canadian and Australian pronunciation is the same as the British.
    lingerie /ˈlænʒəri/ /ˌlɒnʒəˈreɪ/ The original French pronunciation is [lɛ̃ʒʁi].
    liqueur /lɪˈkjʊər/ (1) /lɪˈkɜːr/
    (2) /lɪˈkʊər/    		  
    longitudeB2 /ˈlɒnɡɪtjuːd/ /ˈlɒndʒətjuːd/  
    Los AngelesB2 /lɒs ˈændʒɪliːz/ (1) /lɔːs ˈændʒələs/
    (2) /lɔːs ˈæŋɡələs/    		  
    lycheeA2 /laɪˈtʃiː/ /ˈliːtʃiː/ Spelling litchi has pronunciation /ˈlɪtʃiː/. The BrE pronunciation /laɪˈtʃiː/ also occurs in AmE (though often with first-syllable stress), and the AmE pronunciation is common in BrE.  
    machismo (1) /mæˈtʃɪzmoʊ/
    (2) /məˈtʃɪzmoʊ/
    (3) /məˈkɪzmoʊ/    		 (1) /mɑːˈtʃiːzmoʊ/
    (2) /məˈtʃiːzmoʊ/    		  
    majusculeA2 /ˈmædʒəskjuːl/ /məˈdʒʌskjuːl/ The BrE pronunciation is also the mainstream AmE pronunciation.
    mama[128] (1) /ˈmæmə/
    (2) /məˈmɑː/    		 /ˈmɑːmə/  
    mayonnaiseA2 /ˌmeɪəˈneɪz/ (1) /ˈmeɪəneɪz/
    (2) /ˈmæneɪz/    		  
    metallurgy /mɛˈtælərdʒi/ /ˈmɛtəlɜːrdʒi/  
    methyl /ˈmiːθaɪl/ /ˈmɛθəl/  
    milieuA2 (1) /ˈmiːljɜː/
    (2) /miːlˈjɜː/    		 (1) /mɪlˈjuː/
    (2) /miːlˈjʊ/    		  
    Möbius /ˈmɜːbiəs/ (1) /ˈmoʊbiəs/
    (2) /ˈmeɪbiəs/    		 The original German pronunciation is [ˈmøːbi̯ʊs] and this is approximately reproduced in BrE.
    moustache/mustache[129] /məˈstɑːʃ/ /ˈmʌstæʃ/ BrE is spelled moustache & pronounced /məˈstɑːʃ/. In AmE the word is usually spelled mustache & pronounced /ˈmʌstæʃ/.
    Neuchâtel /ˌnɜːʃæˈtɛl/ /ˌnuːʃəˈtɛl/ The original French pronunciation is [nøʃɑtɛl].
    NicaraguaB2 (1) /ˌnɪkəˈræɡjuə/
    (2) /ˌnɪkəˈræɡwə/    		 /ˌnɪkəˈrɑːɡwə/  
    Niger /niːˈʒɛər/ /ˈnaɪdʒər/ Due to history with France, the country pronunciation in BrE is French [niʒɛʁ]. The country pronunciation in AmE is anglicized. Regardless of region, the river is pronounced /ˈnaɪdʒər/.
    nomenclatureAB2 /nəˈmɛŋklətʃər/ /ˈnoʊmənkleɪtʃər/  
    oreganoB2 /ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnoʊ/ (1) /əˈrɛɡənoʊ/
    (2) /ɔːˈrɛɡənoʊ/    		  
    Otranto /ɒˈtræntoʊ/ /oʊˈtrɑːntoʊ/ The original Italian pronunciation is [ˈɔːtranto].
    pedagogyB2 /ˈpɛdəɡɒɡi/ (1) /ˈpɛdəɡɒdʒi/
    (2) /ˈpɛdəɡoʊdʒi/    		  
    penchant /pɒ̃ˈʃɒ̃/ /ˈpɛntʃənt/ The AmE pronunciation is anglicized; the BrE is French.
    penult /pɛˈnʌlt/ (1) /ˈpiːnʌlt/
    (2) /pɪˈnʌlt/    		  
    phthisic[130] (1) /ˈ(f)θaɪsɪk/
    (2) /ˈtaɪsɪk/    		 (1) /ˈtɪzɪk/
    (2) /ˈθɪzɪk/    		  
    premature[131] (1) /ˈprɛmətʃər/
    (2) /ˈprɛmətjʊər/    		 (1) /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊər/
    (2) /ˌpriːməˈtʊər/    		  
    premierA2 /ˈprɛmiər/ (1) /prɪˈmɪər/
    (2) /ˈpriːmɪər/    		  
    première /ˈprɛmiɛər/ (1) /prɪˈmɪər/
    (2) /prɪˈmjɛər/    		  
    premise (verb) /prɪˈmaɪz/ /ˈprɛmɪs/  
    progress (noun) /ˈproʊɡrɛs/
    (verb) /proʊˈɡrɛs/    		 (noun) /ˈprɒɡrɛs/
    (verb) /prəˈɡrɛs/    		 In both British and American, the noun has stress on the first syllable.
    The verb has stress on the second syllable. Canadians follow the British pronunciation.
    ProvençalA2 (1) /ˌprɒvɒ̃ˈsɑːl/
    (2) /ˌprɒvɒ̃ˈsæl/    		 (1) /ˌproʊvɒ̃ˈsɑːl/
    (2) /ˌproʊvənˈsɑːl/    		  
    provostA2[132] /ˈprɒvəst/ /ˈproʊvoʊst/  
    quasi- /ˈkweɪzaɪ/ (1) /ˈkwɑːzi/
    (2) /ˈkwɑːsaɪ/    		  
    Quezon /ˈkeɪzɒn/ (1) /ˈkeɪsɒn/
    (2) /ˈkeɪsɔːn/
    (3) /ˈkeɪsoʊn/    		 The original Tagalog pronunciation is [ˈkɛson].
    quinine /ˈkwɪniːn/ (1) /ˈkwaɪnaɪn/
    (2) /ˈkwɪnaɪn/    		  
    Rawalpindi /ˌrɔːlˈpɪndi/ /ˌrɑːwəlˈpɪndi/  
    renegue/renege (1) /rɪˈniːɡ/
    (2) /rɪˈneɪɡ/    		 (1) /rɪˈnɪɡ/
    (2) /rɪˈnɛɡ/    		 BrE uses two spellings & pronounced /rɪˈniːɡ/ or /rɪˈneɪɡ/. In AmE the word is usually spelled renege & pronounced /rɪˈnɪɡ/ or /rɪˈnɛɡ/.
    resource (1) /rɪˈzɔːrs/
    (2) /rɪˈsɔːrs/    		 /ˈriːsɔːrs/  
    respite /ˈrɛspaɪt/ (1) /ˈrɛspɪt/
    (2) /rəˈspaɪt/    		  
    reveille /rɪˈvæli/ /ˈrɛvəli/  
    Richelieu /ˈrɪʃəljɜː/ (1) /ˈrɪʃəluː/
    (2) /ˈrɪʃəljuː/    		 The original French pronunciation is [ʁiʃ(ə)ljø].
    Rioja /riˈɒkə/ /riˈoʊhɑː/  
    risotto /rɪˈzɒtoʊ/ (1) /rɪˈsɔːtoʊ/
    (2) /rɪˈsoʊtoʊ/
    (3) /rɪˈzoʊtoʊ/    		  
    Roquefort /ˈrɒkfɔːr/ /ˈroʊkfərt/ The original French pronunciation is [ʁɔkfɔʁ].
    Salzburg /ˈsæltsbɜːrɡ/ /ˈsɔːlzbɜːrɡ/ The original German pronunciation is [ˈzaltsbʊʁk].
    Santander (1) /ˌsæntənˈdɛər/
    (2) /ˌsæntænˈdɛər/    		 /ˌsɑːntɑːnˈdɛər/  
    Schleswig-Holstein /ˌʃleɪzvɪɡ ˈhɒlstaɪn/ /ˌʃlɛswɪɡ ˈhoʊlstiːn/  
    shallotA2 /ʃəˈlɒt/ /ˈʃælət/  
    Silesia (1) /saɪˈliːsiə/
    (2) /saɪˈliːziə/    		 (1) /sɪˈliːʃə/
    (2) /sɪˈliːʒə/    		  
    skeletal /skəˈliːtəl/ /ˈskɛlətəl/ Both pronunciations are common in BrE.
    slough /slaʊ/ /slʌf/ sense "bog"; in metaphorical sense "gloom", the BrE pronunciation is common in AmE. Homograph "cast off skin" is /slʌf/ everywhere.
    sol/Sol[133][134] /sɒl/ (1) /soʊl/
    (2) /sɒl/
    (3) /sɔːl/    		 BrE is pronounced /sɒl/ regardless of meaning. In AmE the word is pronounced /soʊl/ in sense "fifth note of a major scale", /sɒl/ or /sɔːl/ in sense "type of colloid" and when capitalized, and /soʊl/ or /sɔːl/ in sense "currency of Peru".
    StavangerA2 (1) /stəˈvæŋər/
    (2) /stæˈvæŋər/    		 (1) /stɑːˈvɑːŋər/
    (2) /stəˈvɑːŋər/    		 The original Norwegian pronunciation is [stɑˈvɑ̀ŋər]. The BrE pronunciation /stəˈvæŋər/ is common and also occurs in AmE.
    subalternA2 /ˈsʌbəltərn/ /səˈbɔːltərn/  
    Taranto /təˈræntoʊ/ (1) /ˈtɑːrəntoʊ/
    (2) /ˈtɑːrɑːntoʊ/    		 The original Italian pronunciation is [ˈtaːranto].
    timbale /tæmˈbɑːl/ /ˈtɪmbəl/  
    tourniquet /ˈtʊərnɪkeɪ/ (1) /ˈtʊərnɪkɪt/
    (2) /ˈtɜːrnɪkɪt/    		  
    Trondheim /ˈtrɒndhaɪm/ /ˈtrɒnheɪm/ The Urban East Norwegian pronunciation of this word is [ˈtrɔ̂n(h)æɪm].
    Tunisia /tjuːˈnɪziə/ (1) /tjuːˈniːʒə/
    (2) /tjuːˈniːʃə/    		  
    turquoiseA2 (1) /ˈtɜːrkwɔɪz/
    (2) /ˈtɜːrkwɑːz/    		 /ˈtɜːrkɔɪz/ The BrE pronunciation /ˈtɜːrkwɔɪz/ is also the mainstream AmE pronunciation.
    urinalB2 /jʊəˈraɪnəl/ /ˈjʊərɪnəl/  
    vaginal /vəˈdʒaɪnəl/ /ˈvædʒənəl/  
    Van Gogh (1) /ˌvæn ˈɡɒx/
    (2) /ˌvæn ˈɡɒf/    		 /ˌvæn ˈɡoʊ/ The original Dutch pronunciation is [vɑŋˈɣɔx].
    vaseA2[nb 90][135][136] /vɑːz/ (1) /veɪs/
    (2) /veɪz/    		  
    volatilise/volatilize /vəˈlætɪlaɪz/ /ˈvɒlətəlaɪz/ BrE uses two spellings & pronounced /vəˈlætɪlaɪz/. In AmE the word is usually spelled volatilize & pronounced /ˈvɒlətəlaɪz/.
    Z (the letter) /zɛd/ /ziː/ The spelling of this letter as a word corresponds to the pronunciation: thus Commonwealth (including, Canada) zed and U.S. zee.

    Notes
    1. BrE /ˈdeɪbɑːkəl/ (now rare) or more commonly /dɪˈbɑːkəl/, AmE /dɪˈbækəl/
    2. The last vowel is often reduced in BrE. AmE only reduces the middle one.
    3. The British is typically /rɪˈneɪsəns/ and the American /ˈrɛnəsɑːns/ or even /rɛnəˈsɑːns/
    4. For "dam (barrier)": AmE /ˈbɑːrɪdʒ/
    5. BrE /ˈbɛreɪ/, AmE /bəˈreɪ/ (listen)
    6. BrE /ˈbuːfɒ̃/, AmE /buːˈfɑːnt/
    7. BrE (1) /ˈbroʊʃər/ (2) /brɒˈʃʊər/ AmE /broʊˈʃʊər/ (listen)
    8. BrE (1) /ˈbʊfeɪ/ (2) /ˈbʌfeɪ/
    9. BrE (1) /ˈbʌstieɪ/ (2) /ˈbʊstieɪ/ AmE /ˌbuːstiˈeɪ/ corset
    10. BrE /ˈkælvədɒs/ AmE /ˌkælvəˈdoʊs, ˌkɑːlvəˈ-/
    11. BrE (1) /ˈdeɪbriː/ (2) /ˈdɛbriː/
    12. BrE (1) /ˈfɪlɪt/ (2) /ˈfɪleɪ/ AmE /fɪˈleɪ/
    13. BrE /ˈflɒmbeɪ/
    14. BrE also /ˈɡærɪdʒ/, esp. for "petrol garage"/"gas station"[7]
    15. BrE /ˈlɑːmeɪ/, AmE /læˈmeɪ/
    16. AmE /pæˈstiːl/
    17. BrE /ˈpæteɪ/, AmE /pɑːˈteɪ, pæ-/
    18. BrE /ˈpɒ̃sjɒ̃/, AmE /pɒnˈsjoʊn/ lodging
    19. BrE /ˈprɒtəʒeɪ/ AmE (1) /ˈproʊtəʒeɪ/ (2) /ˌproʊtəˈʒeɪ/
    20. BrE /ˈsɔːrbeɪ/ AmE (1) /ˈsɔːrbɪt/ (2) /sɔːrˈbeɪ/
    21. UK: /ˈɑːrɡænd/, US: /ɑːrˈɡɑːnd/, French: [aʁɡɑ̃]
    22. UK: /ˈævɪnjɒ̃/, US: /ˌævɪnˈjoʊn/, French: [aviɲɔ̃]
    23. UK: /ˈboʊvwɑː/, US: /boʊˈvwɑːr/, French: [bovwaʁ]
    24. UK: /ˈbiːzeɪ/, US: /biːˈzeɪ/, French: [bizɛ]
    25. UK: /ˈkæleɪ/, US: /kæˈleɪ/, French: [kalɛ]
    26. UK: /ˈkɑːrtieɪ/, US: /ˌkɑːrtiˈeɪ, -ˈtjeɪ/, French: [kaʁtje]
    27. UK: /ˈʃɑːrdəneɪ/, US: /ˌʃɑːrdəˈneɪ/, French: [ʃaʁdɔnɛ]
    28. UK: /ˈʃɒpæ̃/, US: /ʃoʊˈpæn/, French: [ʃɔpɛ̃]
    29. BrE (1) /ˈsɪtroʊən/ (2) /ˈsɪtrən/ AmE (1) /ˌsɪtroʊˈɛn/ (2) /ˈsɪtroʊn/ French: [sitʁɔɛn]
    30. UK: /ˈdeɪɡɑː/, US: /deɪˈɡɑː/, French: [dəɡɑ]
    31. UK: /ˈdɛpɑːrdjɜː/, US: /ˌdɛpɑːrˈdjuː/, French: [dəpaʁdjø]
    32. UK: /ˈdiːʒɒ̃/, US: /diːˈʒoʊn/, French: [diʒɔ̃]
    33. UK: /ˈdjuːmɑː, dʊˈmɑː/, US: /duːˈmɑː/, French: [dyma]
    34. UK: /ˈfloʊbɛər/, US: /floʊˈbɛər/, French: [flobɛʁ]
    35. UK: /ˈdʒɛrɑːrd/, US: /dʒəˈrɑːrd/, French: [ʒeʁaʁ]
    36. UK: /ˈliːɒ̃/, US: /liˈoʊn/, French: [ljɔ̃]
    37. UK: /ˈmæneɪ/, US: /mæˈneɪ, mə-/, French: [manɛ]
    38. UK: /ˈmæsəneɪ/, US: /ˌmæsəˈneɪ/, French: [masnɛ]
    39. French: [mɔʁis, moʁis]
    40. UK: /ˈmɪleɪ/, US: /mɪˈleɪ/
    41. UK: /ˈmɒliɛər, ˈmoʊl-/, US: /moʊlˈjɛər/, French: [mɔljɛʁ]
    42. UK: /ˈmɒneɪ/, US: /moʊˈneɪ/, French: [mɔnɛ]
    43. UK: /ˈpɜːrpɪnjɒ̃/, US: /ˌpɛərpiːˈnjɒn/, French: [pɛʁpiɲɑ̃]
    44. UK: /ˈpɜːʒoʊ/, US: /puːˈʒoʊ/, French: [pøʒo]
    45. UK: /ˈpiːæf/, US: /piːˈɑːf/, French: [pjaf]
    46. UK: /ˈpwɑːtieɪ/, US: /ˌpwɑːtiˈeɪ, -ˈtjeɪ/, French: [pwatje]
    47. UK: /ˈpuːsæ̃/, US: /puːˈsæn/, French: [pusɛ̃]
    48. UK: /ˈræbəleɪ/, US: /ˌræbəˈleɪ/, French: [ʁablɛ]
    49. UK: /ˈrɛnoʊ/, US: /rəˈnɔːlt, -ˈnoʊ/, French: [ʁəno]
    50. UK: /ˈræ̃boʊ/, US: /ræmˈboʊ/, French: [ʁɛ̃bo]
    51. UK: /ˈrɒʒeɪ/, US: /roʊˈʒeɪ/
    52. UK: /ˈruːɒ̃, ˈruːɒn/, US: /ruːˈɒ̃, ruːˈɒn/, French: [ʁwɑ̃]
    53. UK: /ˈsæti, ˈsɑːti/, US: /sæˈtiː, sɑːˈtiː/, French: [sati]
    54. UK: /ˈsɜːrɑː/, US: /sʊˈrɑː/, French: [sœʁa]
    55. UK: /ˈθɔːroʊ/, US: /θəˈroʊ/
    56. UK: /ˈvælwɑː/, US: /vælˈwɑː, vɑːlˈwɑː/, French: [valwa]
    57. UK: /ˈvuːvreɪ/, US: /vuːˈvreɪ/, French: [vuvʁɛ]
    58. UK: /ˈwɒtoʊ/, US: /wɒˈtoʊ/, French: [vato]
    59. Only middle vowel reduced in the BrE pronunciations.
    60. stress more usually on third syllable in British English
    61. BrE /fiˈɒnseɪ/
    62. Also /ˌtɜːrdʒiˈvɜːrseɪt/
    63. BrE (rare) /dɪˈfɪsɪt/
    64. AmE /ˈfrɪtəlɛri/
    65. AmE (rare) /ˈɡʌfɔː/
    66. BrE /ˌmɑːrʃˈmæloʊ/, AmE /ˈmɑːrʃmɛloʊ/
    67. AmE /ˈmɛd(ʒ)əlɛri/
    68. AmE /ˈmɪsəleɪni/
    69. AmE also /ˈdoʊməsəl/
    70. AmE also possibly /ˈsɛnaɪl/
    71. The 2007 update to the Oxford English Dictionary gives only /iːn/ for the British pronunciation of pristine.
    72. Although the British pronunciation is still heard in American English, it may be in declining usage, being increasingly seen as incorrect.
    73. BrE also /sɪˈzæn/
    74. AmE also /ˈɡælə/
    75. AmE also /ˈstrætʌm/
    76. AmE also /ˈdɑːljə/
    77. BrE also /rɔːθ/ Scottish English /ræθ/
    78. AmE also /ˈn(j)oʊki/
    79. AmE also /ˌhaɪdʒiˈɛnɪk/
    80. AmE also /ˈboʊɡətɑː/
    81. AmE, either /ˈiːθoʊs/ or /ˈɛθoʊs/
    82. AmE, either /ˈpeɪθoʊs/ or /ˈpæθoʊs/
    83. This word is listed due to possible statistical preferences.
    84. AmE is as BrE except in military sense "advance at an angle"
    85. AmE also /pɔːlˈmɔːl/
    86. In BrE, the pronunciation /raʊt/ is a different word, spelt rout, meaning to defeat.
    87. AmE also /ˈkɒndjuɪt/
    88. BrE also /ˈnʌɡɪt/
    89. The old English pronunciation with /v/ has to a large extent been replaced by /f/ due to the spelling latinization of Middle English "neveu". The preference breakdown in BrE is /f/ 79%, /v/ 21%.)[121]
    90. British variant used sometimes in American English

    References
    1. "Unsourced words: Oxford Dictionary of English (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    2. "brevet (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    3. "brochure (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    4. "buffet". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    5. "canard". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    6. "filet (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    7. Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition
    8. "protege (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    9. "BrE pronunciation". Oxford Dictionaries.
    10. "sorbet (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    11. "soupçon". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    12. "Avignon (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    13. "Beauvoir (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    14. "Bizet (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    15. "Calais (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    16. "Cartier (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    17. "Chardonnay (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    18. "Chopin (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    19. "Degas (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    20. "Depardieu (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    21. "Dijon (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    22. "Dumas (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    23. "Flaubert (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    24. "Gerard (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    25. "Lyons (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    26. "Manet (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    27. "Maurice (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    28. "Millais (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    29. "Molière (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    30. "Monet (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    31. "Perpignan (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    32. "Piaf (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    33. "Poitiers (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    34. "Poussin (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    35. "Rabelais (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    36. "Renault (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    37. "Rimbaud (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    38. "Roget (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    39. "Rouen (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    40. "Satie (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    41. "Seurat (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    42. "Thoreau (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    43. "Valois (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    44. "Vouvray (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    45. "Watteau (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    46. "démodé (BrE)". Macmillan Dictionary."démodé (AmE)". Macmillan Dictionary.
    47. "cremate (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    48. "striate (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    49. "vacate (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    50. "migratory". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    51. "vibratory". Oxford Dictionaries.
    52. "remonstrate (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    53. "tergiversate". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries."tergiversate (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    54. "celebratory". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    55. "compensatory (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    56. "participatory". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    57. "regulatory (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    58. "laboratory". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries."laboratory (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    59. "converse (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    60. "guffaw (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    61. "spreadeagled (BrE)". Cambridge Dictionaries.
    62. "Pakistan (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    63. "obscurantism". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    64. "military (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    65. "inventory (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    66. "testimony". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    67. "innovative". Oxford Dictionaries.
    68. "library". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    69. "primary". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    70. "rosemary". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    71. Hartwell, Patrick. (1980). "Dialect Interference in Writing: A Critical View". Research in the Teaching of English, 14(2), p. 103. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/40170844
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    73. "ductile (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    74. "projectile (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    75. "utile (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    76. "rutile (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    77. Boberg, Charles (2015). "North American English". In Reed, Marnie; Levis, John M. (eds.). The Handbook of English Pronunciation. Wiley. pp. 229–250. doi:10.1002/9781118346952.ch13. ISBN 978-1-11831447-0.
    78. "labyrinthine (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    79. "Saint (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    80. "Changing Voices: Trap Bath Split". British Library. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
    81. "Nevada (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    82. Lindsey, Geoff (1990). "Quantity and quality in British and American vowel systems". In Ramsaran, Susan (ed.). Studies in the Pronunciation of English: A Commemorative Volume in Honour of A.C. Gimson. Routledge. pp. 106–118. ISBN 978-0-41507180-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    83. "Kebab (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    84. "praline (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    85. "quagmire (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    86. "sausage (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    87. "leprechaun (AmE)". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
    88. "falcon (AmE)". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
    89. "aesthete (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    90. "amenity (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    91. Brown, Lesley. The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
    92. "esoteric (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    93. "oestrogen (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    94. "oestrus (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    95. "Haggai (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    96. "baroque (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    97. Wells 2000
    98. "yoghurt (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    99. "codicil (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    100. "privacy (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    101. "tricolour (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    102. "been (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    103. "boulevard". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
    104. "route (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    105. "acorn". Merriam-Webster.
    106. "melancholy (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    107. "parallelepiped (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    108. "template (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    109. OED entry
    110. "erudite (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    111. "résumé (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    112. "visa (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.
    113. "sandwich (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    114. "Dionysius (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    115. "nausea (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    116. "transient (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    117. "celestial (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    118. "consortium (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    119. "sentient (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com."sentient (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    120. Jones, Daniel (1991). English Pronouncing Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521425865.
    121. Wells, John C. (1990). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Longman.
    122. "chthonic (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    123. "herb (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    124. "Knossos (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    125. "salve (AmE)". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
    126. "cosmos (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    127. "febrile (AmE)". Merriam-Webster."febrile (AmE)". Macmillan Dictionary.
    128. "mama (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    129. "moustache". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    130. "phthisic (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    131. "premature". Oxford Learner's Dictionaries.
    132. "provost (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    133. "sol (BrE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    134. "sol (AmE)". Oxford Dictionaries.
    135. "vase (main AmE, Collins BrE)". Dictionary.com.
    136. "vase (AmE)". Merriam-Webster.

    Further reading
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