In the following discussion
A few French words have other stress differences:
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: elongate, infiltrateA2, remonstrate, tergiversate. However, some derived adjectives ending -atory have a difference, as stress shifting to -at- can occur in BrE. Among these cases are regulatoryB2, celebratoryA2, participatoryB2, where AmE stresses the same syllable as the corresponding -ate verb; and compensatory, where AmE stresses the second syllable.
A further -atory difference is laboratory: AmE /'læbrɪˌtɔri/ and BrE /lə'bɒrət(ə)riː/.
The following table lists words where the only difference between AmE and BrE is in stress (possibly with a consequent reduction of the unstressed vowel). Words with other points of difference are listed in a later table.
| BrE | AmE | words with relevant syllable stressed in each dialect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | caffeine, cannotA2, casein, Kathleen, SuezA2, communal, escalopeB2, harass, omega, paprikaB2, patina, subaltern, stalactite, stalagmite, ThanksgivingB2, transference, aristocratA2,B2, kilometreB2 |
| 2nd | 1st | defense (sport), guffawA2, ice creamA2,B2, guru, mama, papa, pretense, princessA2,B2, weekendB2, Canton, anginaA2, Augustine, Bushido, Ghanaian, LofotenB2, marshmallow, patronal, spread-eagle, controversy, formidableB2, hospitableB2, miscellany, predicative, saxophonistB2, submariner, ancillary, capillary, catenary, corollary, fritillary, medullary |
| 1st | 3rd | ParmesanB2, partisan, premature, opportune, carburet(t)or |
| 3rd | 1st | margarine, PyreneesB2, cockatoo |
| 2nd | 3rd | advertisement |
| 3rd | 2nd | arytenoidA2, oregano, obscurantist |
Note that stress differences occur with ending -atory (explained above) and a few others like capillary (included above). A few words have the full vowel in AmE in the ending even though the preceding syllable is stressed: library, primaryA2, rosemary. Pronouncing library as /'laɪbɛri/ rather than /'laɪbrɛri/ is highly stigmatized in AmE, whereas in BrE, /'laɪbriː/ is common in rapid or casual speech.
Formerly the BrE-AmE distinction for adjectives carried over to corresponding adverbs ending -arily, -erily or -orily. However, nowadays most BrE speakers adopt the AmE practice of shifting the stress to the antepenultimate syllable: militarily is thus /ˌmɪlɪ'tɛrɪliː/ rather than /'mɪlɪtrɪliː/.
The placename component -bury (e.g. Canterbury) has a similar difference after a stressed syllable: AmE /bɛri/ and BrE /brɪː/ or /bərɪː/. The ending -mony after a stressed syllable is AmE /moʊni/ but BrE /mənɪː/. The word -berry in compounds has a slightly different distinction: in BrE, it is reduced (/bəriː/ or /briː/) after a stressed syllable, and may be full /bɛriː/ after an unstressed syllable; in AmE it is usually full in all cases. Thus, strawberry is BrE /'strɔːbəriː/ but AmE /'strɔbɛri/, while whortleberry is BrE /'wɔːtlbɛriː/ and similarly AmE /'wɔrtlbɛri/.
Related endings -ility, -ilize, -iliary are pronounced the same in AmE as BrE. The name Savile is pronounced with (/ɪl/) in both BrE and AmE. Mobile (sculpture), camomile and febrile are sometimes pronounced with /il/ in AmE and /aɪl/) in BrE. Imbecile has /aɪl/ or /iːl/ in BrE and often /ɪl/ in AmE.
On the other hand, the titles Saint and Sir before a person's name have "weak forms" in BrE but not AmE: before vowels, [snt] and [sər]; before consonants, [sn] and [sə].
These tables list words pronounced differently but spelled the same. See also the table of words with different pronunciation reflected in the spelling.
| BrE | AmE | Words |
|---|---|---|
| /æ/ | /ɑ/ | annato, BangladeshA2, Caracas, chiantiA2, Galapagos, GdańskA2, grappaA2, gulagA2, HanoiA2, JanA2 (male name, e.g. Jan Palach), KantA2, kebab, Las (placenames, e.g. Las Vegas), Mafia, mishmashA2, MombasaA2, Natasha, Nissan, Pablo, pasta, PicassoA2, ralentando, SanA2 (names outside USA; e.g. San Juan), SlovakA2, Sri LankaA2, Vivaldi, wigwamA2, YasserA2 (and A in many other foreign names and loanwords) |
| /iː/ | /ɛ/ | aesthete, anaesthetize, breveA2, catenaryA2, Daedalus, devolutionA2,B2, ecumenicalB2, epochA2, evolutionA2,B2, febrileA2, Hephaestus, KenyaB2, leverA2, methane, OedipusA2, (o)estrus, penalizeA2, predecessorA2, pyrethrinA2, senileA2, hygienic |
| /ɒ/ | /oʊ/ | Aeroflot, compost, homosexualB2, Interpol, Lod, pogrom, polkaB2, produce (noun), Rosh Hashanah, sconeA2,B2, shone, sojourn, trollB2, yoghurt |
| /ɑː/ | /æ/ | (Excluding trap-bath split words) banana, javaA2, khakiA2, morale, NevadaA2, scenarioA2, sopranoA2, tiaraA2, Pakistani |
| /ɛ/ | /i/ | CecilA2,B2, crematoriumA2, cretin, depot, inherentA2,B2, leisureA2, medievalA2, reconnoitreA2, zebraB2, zenithA2,B2 |
| /æ/ | /eɪ/ | compatriot, patriotB2, patronise, phalanx, plait, repatriate, Sabine, satrapA2, satyrA2, basilA2 (plant) |
| /ɪ/ | /aɪ/ | dynasty, housewifery, idyll, livelongA2, long-livedA2, privacyB2, simultaneous, vitamin. Also the suffix -ization. See also -ine. |
| /z/ | /s/ | AussieA2, blouse, complaisantA2, crescent, erase, GlasgowA2, parse, valise, trans-A2,B2 (in some words) |
| /ɑː/ | /eɪ/ | amenA2, charadeB2, cicada, galaA2, promenadeA2, pro rata, tomato, stratum |
| /əʊ/ | /ɒ/ | codify, goffer, ogleA2, phonetician, processor, progress (noun), slothA2,B2, wont A2, wroth |
| /ʌ/ | /ɒ/ | accomplice, accomplish, colanderB2, constableB2, Lombardy, monetaryA2, -mongerA2 |
| /ɒ/ | /ʌ/ | hovelA2,B2, hover. Also the strong forms of these function words: anybodyA2 (likewise every-, some-, and no-), becauseA2,B2 (and clipping 'cos/'cause), ofA2, fromA2, wasA2, whatA2 |
| (sounded) | (silent) | chthonic, herbA2 (plant), KnossosB2, phthisicB2, salve, solder |
| /ɑː/ | /ɚ/ | Berkeley, Berkshire, clerk, Derby, Hertford. (The only AmE word with |
| /aɪ/ | /i/ | eitherA2,B2, neitherA2,B2, Pleiades. See also -ine. |
| /iː/ | /aɪ/ | albino, migraineB2. Also the prefixes anti-A2, multi-A2, semi-A2 in loose compounds (e.g. in anti-establishment, but not in antibody). See also -ine. |
| /ə/ | /ɒ/ | hexagon, octagon, paragon, pentagon, phenomenon. |
| /iː/ | /eɪ/ | eta, beta, quayA2, theta, zeta |
| /aɪ/ | /ɪ/ | butylB2, diverge, minorityA2,B2, primer (schoolbook). See also -ine. |
| /ɛ/ | /eɪ/ | ateB2 ("et" is nonstandard in America), mêlée, chaise longue |
| /ɜːz/ | /us/ | Betelgeuse, chanteuse, chartreuseA2, masseuse |
| /eɪ/ | /æ/ | apricotA2, dahlia, digitalis, patentA2,B2, comrade |
| (silent) | (sounded) | medicineB2. See also -ary -ery -ory -bury, -berry |
| /ɒ/ | /ə/ | Amos, condom, Enoch |
| /ʃ/ | /ʒ/ | AsiaB2, PersiaB2, versionB2 |
| /ə/ | /oʊ/ | borough, thorough (see also -ory and -mony) |
| /ɪr/ | /ɚ/ | chirrupA2, stirrupA2, sirupA2, squirrel |
| /siː/ | /ʃ/ | cassia, CassiusA2, hessian |
| /tiː/ | /ʃ/ | consortium |
| /uː/ | /ju/ | couponA2, fuchsine, HoustonB2 |
| /uː/ | /ʊ/ | boulevard, snooker, woofA2 (weaving) |
| /ɜː(r)/ | /ʊr/ | connoisseurA2, entrepreneurA2 |
| /ɜː/ | /oʊ/ | föhnB2, MöbiusB2 |
| /ə/ | /eɪ/ | DraconianA2, hurricaneB2 |
| /eɪ/ | /i/ | deityA2,B2, Helene |
| /juː/ | /w/ | jaguar, Nicaragua |
| /ɔː/ | /ɑ/ | launch, saltB2 |
| /ɔː(r)/ | /ɚ/ | record (noun), stridorA2,B2 |
| /ziː/ | /ʒ/ | Frasier, Parisian, Malaysia |
| /æ/ | /ɒ/ | twatB2 |
| /ɒ/ | /æ/ | wrath |
| /ɑː/ | /ət/ | nougat |
| /ɑː/ | /ɔ/ | Utah |
| /ɑː/ | /ɔr/ | quarkA2,B2 |
| /æ/ | /ɛ/ | femme fataleA2 |
| /aɪ/ | /eɪ/ | Isaiah |
| /aʊ/ | /u/ | nousA2 |
| /ð/ | /θ/ | booth |
| /diː/ | /dʒi/ | cordiality |
| /dʒ/ | /gdʒ/ | suggestA2 |
| /eɪ/ | /ə/ | template |
| /eɪ/ | /ət/ | tourniquet |
| /ə(r)/ | /ɑr/ | MadagascarA2 |
| /ə(r)/ | /jɚ/ | figureA2 for the verb |
| /ɛ/ | /ɑ/ | envelopeA2,B2 |
| /ɛ/ | /ə/ | Kentucky |
| /ə/ | /æ/ | trapeze |
| /ɜː(r)/ | /ɛr/ | errA2 |
| /əʊ/ | /ɒt/ | Huguenot |
| /əʊ/ | /aʊ/ | MoscowA2 |
| /əʊ/ | /u/ | broochA2 |
| /ɪ/ | /i/ | pi(t)taB2 |
| /iː/ | /ɪ/ | beenB2 |
| /iːʃ/ | /ɪtʃ/ | nicheA2,B2 |
| /jɜː/ | /ju/ | milieu |
| /juː/ | /u/ | barracuda |
| /ɔː/ | /æ/ | falconA2 |
| /s/ | /z/ | asthma |
| /ʃ/ | /sk/ | scheduleB2 |
| /t/ | /θ/ | AnthonyA2,B2 |
| /ts/ | /z/ | piazzaA2 |
| /ʊ/ | /ɪ/ | kümmel |
| /ʊ/ | /ʌ/ | brusque |
| /uː/ | /aʊ/ | routeA2 |
| /uː/ | /oʊ/ | cantaloup(e) |
| /ʌ/ | /oʊ/ | covertA2,B2 |
| /z/ | /ʃ/ | Dionysius |
| /ziː/ | /ʃ/ | transientA2, nausea |
The slashes normally used to enclose IPA phonemic transcriptions have been omitted from the following table to improve legibility.
| Spelling | BrE IPA | AmE IPA | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| barrage | ˈbær.ɑːʒ | (1) bəˈrɑʒ (2) ˈbær.ɪdʒ | The AmE pronunciations are for distinct senses (1) "sustained weapon-fire" vs (2) "dam, barrier" (Compare garage below.) |
| boehmite | (1) ˈbɜːmaɪt (2) ˈbəʊmaɪt | (1) ˈbeɪmaɪt (2) ˈboʊmaɪt | The first pronunciations approximate German [ø] (spelled <ö> or <oe>) ; the second ones are anglicized. |
| bouquet | 'buːkeɪ | (1) boʊˈkeɪ (2) buˈkeɪ | |
| boyar | (1) ˈbɔɪ.ɑː (2) bəʊˈjɑː | (1) boʊˈjɑr (2) ˈbɔɪ.jɚ | |
| buoy | ˈbɔɪ | ˈbu.i | The U.S. pronunciation would be unrecognised in the UK. The British pronunciation occurs in America, more commonly for the verb than the noun, still more in derivatives buoyant, buoyancy. |
| cadre | (1) ˈkæd.ə(r) (2) ˈkæd.rə | (1) ˈkæd.ri (2) ˈkɑd.ri (3) ˈkæd.reɪ (4) ˈkɑd.reɪ | |
| canton | kænˈtuːn | (1) kænˈtɑn (2) kænˈtoʊn | difference is only in military sense "to quarter soldiers" |
| dilettante | dɪləˈtænti | (1) ˈdɪləˌtɑnt (2) ˌdɪləˈtɑnt | BrE reflects the word's Italian origin; AmE approximates more to French. |
| enquiry/inquiry | ɪŋˈkwaɪ.(ə)ri | (1) ˈɪŋ.kwə.ri (2) ɪŋˈkwaɪ.(ə)ri | BrE uses two spellings and one pronunciation. In AmE the word is usually spelled inquiry. |
| febrile | 'fiːb.raɪl | (1) ˈfɛb.ril (2) ˈfɛb.rəl | The BrE pronunciation occurs in AmE |
| fracas | ˈfrækɑː | (1) 'freɪkəs (2) ˈfrækəs | The BrE plural is French fracas /ˈfrækɑːz/; the AmE plural is anglicized fracases |
| garage | (1) ˈgærɪdʒ (2) ˈgærɑːʒ | gəˈrɑ(d)ʒ | The AmE reflects French stress difference. The two BrE pronunciations may represent distinct meanings for some speakers; for example, "a subterranean garage for a car" (1) vs "a petrol garage" (2). (Compare barrage above.) |
| glacier | (1) ˈglæsiə (2) ˈgleɪsiə | ˈgleɪʃɚ | |
| jalousie | (1) ʒælʊˈziː (2) ˈʒælʊziː | ˈdʒæləsi | |
| lapsang souchong | |||
| lasso | ləˈsuː | ˈlæsoʊ | The BrE pronunciation is common in AmE |
| lieutenant | (1) lɛfˈtɛnənt (2) ləˈtɛnənt | luˈtɛnənt | The 2nd British pronunciation is restricted to the Royal Navy. Standard Canadian pronunciation is the same as the British. |
| lychee | ˌlaɪˈtʃiː | ˈlitʃi | Spelling litchi has pronunciation /ˈlɪtʃi(ː)/ |
| Molière | ˈmɒl.i.ɛə | moʊlˈjɛr | |
| oblique | əbˈliːk | əbˈlaɪk | AmE is as BrE except in military sense "advance at an angle" |
| penchant | pãˈʃã | ˈpɛntʃənt | The AmE pronunciation is anglicized; the BrE is French. |
| penult | pɛˈnʌlt | (1) ˈpinʌlt (2) pɪˈnʌlt | |
| premier | (1) ˈprɛmjə (2) ˈprɛmɪə | (1) ˈprimɪr (2) prɪmˈɪr | |
| première | ˈprɛmɪɛə | (1) prɪmˈɪr (2) prɪmˈjɛr | |
| provost | ˈprɒvəst | (1) ˈproʊvoʊst (2) ˈproʊvəst | The BrE pronunciation also occurs in AmE |
| quinine | ˈkwɪniːn | (1) ˈkwaɪnaɪn (2) ˈkwɪnaɪn | |
| resource | (1) rɪˈzɔːs (2) rɪˈsɔːs | ˈrisɔrs | |
| respite | ˈrɛspaɪt | (1) ˈrɛspət (2) rɪˈspaɪt | |
| reveille | rɪˈvæliː | ˈrɛvəli | |
| slough | slaʊ | slu | sense "bog"; in metaphorical sense "gloom", the BrE pronunciation is common in AmE. Homograph "cast off skin" is /slʌf/ everywhere. |
| Tunisia | tjuːˈnɪziə | (1) tuˈniʒə (2) tuˈniʃə | |
| untoward | ˌʌn.tʊˈwɔːd | (1) ʌnˈtɔrd (2) ˌʌn.təˈwɔrd | |
| vase | vɑːz | (1) veɪs (2) veɪz | The BrE pronunciation also occurs in AmE |
| z (the letter) | zɛd | ziː | The spelling of this letter as a word corresponds to the pronunciation: thus Commonwealth (including, usually, Canada) zed and U.S. (and, occasionally, Canada) zee. |