BRITISH ACCENT

Chapter 1
Vowels and consonants
The first step for mastering the British accent is to
pronounce the letters correctly and specially the
vowels.
Vowels are divided in to:

1- Short vowels such as /ə/ /ʌ/ /æ/ /e/ /ɪ/ /ɒ/ /ʊ/.

2- Long vowels such as /ɑː/ /ɜː/ /iː/ /ɔː/ /uː/.

3- Diphthongs such as /eɪ/ /ɑɪ/ /əʊ/ /ʊə/ /aʊ/ /ɪə/

/eə/ /ɔɪ/.

Consonants are easy to pronounce and not

complicated such as vowels.

In this book, we are going to study the vowels in a

different way a little bit. We are not going to study
them as short and long vowels as it was mentioned
above but we will study the sound that each letter
produces separately.

1
The letter A,a produces
Ω:
/æ/sounds: /ɑː/
And /ænd/ Pass /pɑːs/
Bad /bæd/ Grass /grɑːs/
Back /bæk/ Glass /glɑːs/
Hat /hæt/ Chance /tʃɑːns/
Had /hæd/ Park /pɑːk/
Have /hæv/ Mark /mɑːk/
Jacket /ʤækɪt/ Heart /hɑːt/
Happen /hæpən/ Car /kɑː/
/eɪ/ /ə/
Game /geɪm/ About /əbɑut/
Play /pleɪ/ Around /ərɑud/
May /meɪ/ Above /əbʌv/
Pay /pleɪ/ Canal /kənæl/
Wave /weɪv/ Among /əmʌŋ/
Rain /reɪn/ Again /əgen/
Train /treɪn/ Abuse (verb) /əbjuːz/
/eə/
Chair /tʃeə/
Hair /heə/
Fair /feə/
Bear /beə/
There /ðeə/
Care /keə/
Flare /fleə/
2
The letter E, e produces Ω:
/e/ /ɜː/
Head /hed/ Earn /ɜːn/
Egg /eg/ Heard /hɜːd/
End /end/ Term /tɜːm/
Excellent /ekslənt/ Person /pɜːsən/
Pet /pet/ Serve /sɜːv/
Net /net/ Earth /ɜːθ/
Molest /məʊlest/ Learn /lɜːn/
/iː/ /ə/
Knee /niː/ Peeler /piːlə/
Believe /bɪliːv/ Perhaps /pəhæps/
Bean /biːn/ Teacher /tiːtʃə/
Receive /rɪsiːv/ Better /betə/
Treat /triːt/ Matter /mætə/
Thief /θiːf/ Resent /rɪzent/
Meat /miːt/ Different /dɪfərət/
Tea /tiː/ Research /rəsɜːtʃ/
/ɪ/ /ɪə/
Religion /rɪlɪdʒən/ Here /hɪə/
Expect /ɪkspekt/ Near /nɪə/
Electricity /ɪlektrɪsɪti/ Fear /fɪə/
Enjoy /ɪndʒɔɪ/ Mere /mɪə/
Women /wɪmɪn/ Steer /stɪə/
Resent /rɪzent/ Engineer /ɪndʒɪnɪə/
Renaissance /rɪneɪsəns/ Dear /dɪə/
Represent /reprɪzent/ Atmosphere /ætməsfɪə/

3
The letter U, u produces Ω:
/ʊ/ /uː/
Cook /kʊk/ Cube /kjuːb/
Look /lʊk/ Tube /tjuːb/
Good /gʊd/ Food /fuːd/
Push /pʊtʃ/ Few /fjuː/
Full /fʊl/ You /juː/
Foot /fʊt/ Who /whuː/
Took /tʊk/ Too /tuː/
Note: oo is pronounced /ʊ/ Note: ew, ou and oo are
sometimes. pronounced /uː/ as well. Except
/ʌ/ oo in blood and flood are
pronounced /ʌ/.
But /bʌt/
Rush /rʌʃ/ /ə/
Run /rʌn/ Culture /kʌltʃə/
Nut /nʌt/ Lecture /lektʃə/
Hunt /hʌnt/ Literature /lɪtərətʃə/
Gun /gʌn/ Just /dʒəst/
Fun /fʌn/ Could /kəd/
/ʊə/ Should /ʆəd/
Note: ou is pronounced /ə/
Cure /kjʊə/ sometimes.
Secure /sekjʊə/ /ɜː/
Pure /pjʊə/
Urge /ɜːdʒ/
Curious /kjʊəriəs/
Burn /bɜːn/
Tour /tʊə/
Hurt /hɜːt/
Power /paʊə/
Nurse /nɜːs/
Tower /Taʊə/
Turtle /tɜːtle/
Murk /mɜːk/
4
The letter O,o produces Ω:
/ɒ/ /ʌ/
On /ɒn/ Some /sʌm/
Not /nɒt/ Colander /kʌləndə/
Hot /hɒt/ Love /lʌv/
Pot /pɒt/ Come /kʌm/
Want /wɒnt/ Another /ənʌðə/
Was /wɒz/ Rough /rʌf/
Watch /wɒtʃ/ Brother /brʌθə/
/ɔː/ /aʊ/
North /nɔːθ/ Out /aʊt/
More /mɔː/ Noun /naʊn/
For /fɔː/ Now /nɑʊ/
War /wɔː/ How /haʊ/
Taught /tɔːt/ Cow /kaʊ/
Call /kɔːl/ Foul /faʊl/
Awful /ɔːfʊl/ Count /kaʊnt/
Thought /θɔːt/ About /əbaʊt/
Note: Au, all, war, and aw are Mountain /məʊntən/
pronounced /ɔː/ as well Sound /səʊnd/
/ə/
Confront /kənfrʌnt/
Complete /kəmpliːt/
Confuse /kənfjuːz/
Contrast (v) /kəntrɑːst/
Continue /kəntɪnju:/
Economic /ekənɒmɪk/

5
/ɔɪ/ /əʊ/
Coin /kɔɪn/ Note /nəʊt/
Point /pɔɪnt/ Hope /həʊp/
Oil /ɔɪl/ Boat /bəʊt/
Enjoy /ɪndʒɔɪ/ Coat /kəʊt/
Toy /tɔɪ/ Old /əʊld/
Boy /bɔɪ/ Sold /səʊld/
Join /dʒɔɪn/ Grow /grəʊ/
Annoy /ənɔɪ/ Flow /fləʊ/
Noise /nɔɪz/ Most /məʊst/
Foil /fɔɪl/ Post /pəʊst/

The letter I,i produces Ω:

/ɑɪ/ /ɜː/
Mine /mɑɪn/ Sir /sɜː/
Mime /mɑɪm/ Girl /gɜːl/
Pineapple /pɑɪnæpl/ Virgin /vɜːdʒɪn/
Might /mɑɪt/ Thirsty /θɜːsti/
Bye /bɑɪ/ Circus /sɜːkəs/
Hi /hɑɪ/ First /fɜːst/
Kite /kɑɪt/ Third /θɜːd/
/ɪ/ Shirt /ʃɜːt/
Hint /hɪnt/
Mint /mɪnt/
Kit /kɪt/
Hit /hɪt/
Fit /fɪt/
Pit /pɪt/ 6
Consonants are made up of Ω:
/p/ /v/ /dʒ/
Pin /pɪn/ Van /væn/ Bridge /brɪdʒ/
Spin /spɪn/ Move /muːv/ Fringe /frɪndʒ/
Happen /hæpən/ Live /lɪv/ Gym /dʒɪm/
/b/ /k/ /θ/
Bin /bɪn/ Key /keɪ/ Thank /θɪnk/
Mob /mɒb/ Cat /kæt/ Thought /θɒt/
Boot /buːt/ Back /bæk/ Breath /breθ/
/t/ /g/ /ð/
Tall /tɔːl/ Gag /gæg/ That /ðæt/
Till /tɪl/ Stag /stæg/ Breathe /briːð/
Tat /tæt/ Gun /gʌn/ Those /ðəʊz/
/d/ /s/ /ʒ/
Dad /dæd/ Size /sɑɪz/ Pleasure /pleʒə/
Add /æd/ Sit /sɪt/ Measure /meʒə/
Curd /kɜːd/ Place /pleɪs/ Vision /vɪʒɪn/
/h/ /z/ /tʃ/
Hot /hɒt/ Zero /zɪərəʊ/ Watch /wɒtʃ/
Heat /hiːt/ Zoo /zuː/ Touch /tʌtʃ/
House /haʊs/ Ooze /uːz/ Cheat /tʃiːt/
/f/ /ŋ/ /ʃ/
Fan /fæn/ Ink /ɪŋk/ Lash /læʃ/
Fluffy /flʌfi/ Among /əmʌŋ/ Sheet /ʃiːt/
Five /fɑɪv/ Evening /iːvnɪŋ/ Shall /ʃəl/

7
Exercise
Pronounce these words below correctly:
Jumper Rough
Window Gorgeous
Party Floss
Emily Dental
Laboratory Bookcase
Convince Chuffed
Military Miffed
Talk fist

Exercise
Pronounce these sentences below correctly:
Me, jealous? Do not be daft.
His voice was barely audible.
It is a great car, and it is very easy to drive.
I usually sleep on my back.
My foot hurts.
She was upset at missing all the excitement.

8
 CONTRACTION

‘’Of’’ to ‘’a’’ Ω
•Sort of =sorta
I’m sorta tired(BrE).
•Kind of = kinda
I’m kinda tired(AmE).
•Out off/to = outta
Get me outta here.
•A lot of = a lotta
There are a lotta balls.
•Lots of = lotsa
This shops sells lotsa good things.
•Much of = mucha
Mucha milk spilt over here.
Cup of = cuppa
•Fancy cuppa(tea)?

‘’Have’’ to ‘’a’’ Ω
•Should have = shoulda
You shoulda told me.
•Shouldn’t have = shouldna
You shouldna told me.
•Could have = coulda

9
I coulda passed easily.
•Couldn’t have = couldna
I couldna passed easily.
•Would have = woulda
I woulda been there for your birthday party.
•Wouldn’t have = wouldna
I wouldna been there for your birthday party.
•Might have = mighta
He mighta gone.
•Mightn’t have = mightna
He mightna gone.
•Must have = musta
They musta followed the instructions.
•Mustn’t have = mussna
They mussna followed the instructions.

‘’you’’ to ‘’cha’’ Ω
•Don’t you = dontcha
You did that, dontcha?
•Won’t you = wontcha
You will travel, wontcha?
•What are you = watcha
Watcha doing here?
•Bet you = betcha

10
I betcha.
•Got you = gotcha
I gotcha.
•You/ you are =ya
What is the wrong with ya?

‘’to’’ to ‘’a’’ Ω
•(have) got to = gotta
I gotta go.
•Want (to) = wanna
I wanna a coffee.
•Going to = gonna
I’m gonna talk to her.
•Need to = needa
I needa repair it now.
•Ought to = oughta
We oughta jump up.
•Have to = hafta
I hafta do it.
•Has to = hasta
She hasta hurry.
•Had to = hadda
Sam hadda left them alone.
•Used to = usta

11
I usta drink tea before breakfast.
•Supposed to = suppose ta
We are supposed ta apologise to him.

Others Ω
•Don’t know = dunno
I dunno what is going on?
•Let me = lemme
Lemme come with you.
•Give me = gimme
Gimme that pen.
•Because = coz
I failed coz of you.
•Isn’t it? = innit?
That is a cat, innit?
•Isn’t = ain’t
I ain’t your friend from now on.
•Haven’t = ain’t
I ain’t got any one
•Tell them = tell’em
Tell’em the truth

12
Exercise
Use the contractions where are possible:
He has to go to school today.
Give me some biscuits, please.
Is not that enough?
You should have informed me before.
I want a cup of tea.
I have got to leave.
They might have not seen me.
Much of water is still here.
What sort of man is he?
You will pass the exam, wontcha?

13
 ALTERATION Ω
/p/ replace /t/ : right place /raɪp pleɪs/
/b/ replace /d/: hard path /ha:b pa:θ/
/m/ replace /n/: ten men /tem men/
/k/ replace /t/: white coat /waɪk kəʊt/
/g/ replace /d/: bad cold /bæg kəʊld/
/ŋ/ replace /n/: one cup /wʌŋ kʌp/
/ʃ/ replace /s/: nice shoes /naɪʃ ʃu:z/
/ʒ/ replace /z/: those shops /ðəʊʒ ʃɒp/

Exercise
Pronounces these words below giving the correct
transcriptions:
White bird /waɪp bɜ:d/
This year /ðɪs jɪə/
Good boy /gʊb bɔɪ/
Gone back /gʌm bæk/
That girl /ðak gɜ:l/
Main gate /meɪŋ geɪt/
Red gate /reg geɪt/
Where’s yours /weəʒ jɔ:z/

14
 DISAPPEARANCE Ω
/st/ + stop sound: last time /la: taɪm/
+ nasal sound: best man /bes mæn/
+ fraction sound: west side /wes saɪd/
/ft/ + stop sound: lift boy /lɪf bɔɪ/
+ nasal sound: soft mattress /sɒf mætrəs/
+ friction sound: left shoe /lef ʃu:z/
/nd/ + nasal sound: blind man /blaɪd mæn/
+ weak stop: tinned beans /tɪn bi:nz/
/md/ + nasal: skimmed milk /skɪm mɪlk/
+ weak stop: it seemed good /ɪt si:m gʊd/

Exercise
Pronounces these words below giving the correct
transcriptions:
Kind nurse /kaɪn nɜ:s/
Stand guard /stæn ga:d/
He seemed nice /hi: si:m naɪs/
He climbed back /hi: klaɪm bæk/

15
 Chapter 2
How to sounds like a British native speaker Ω
In British accent, there are some sounds if you pronounce
them properly, you will sound like British native speakers.
1- /əʊ/ is pronounced with a little bit exaggeration.
Go, know, note, mole, pole, coca cola, comma…
2- /æ/ is pronounced normally and not like how
Americans pronounce it with exaggeration.
Cat, hat, fat, mat, at…
3- /iː/ and /i/ are pronounced like /eɪ/, not /iː/.
Me, she, beauty. Baby, bleak, week, mean, receive…
4- /ə/ is pronounced a little bit like /ɑː/ at the end of the
word.
Teacher, matter, doctor, giver, better, Harry potter…
5- /t/ is not pronounced at end of the word while in the
middle is known as a glottal T.
Absolutely, totally, matter, better, water, mate, tonight,
shut up…
6- /l/ is pronounced /w/ at end of the word and
sometime, it is not pronounced at all.
Hell, milk, special, little, bottle feel, Paul, hall…
7- /h/ is not pronounced at the beginning of a word.
Happy, house, home, hope, hi, hello, hotel…

16
8 - /ð/ is pronounced /v/ except THAT and some other
words.
Them, the apple, with, other, there, then, than, father,
brother, mother…
9 - /θ/ is pronounced /f/.
Thank, anything, death, think, something, nothing,
north…
Note: In some words like hat, heat, heel… you can
pronounce either the H or the T but not both of them.
Note: These rules are considered to be informal and
slang way of talking, therefore do not try to apply these
rules into every word. It is just enough to be familiar with
those, which are known with this sort of pronunciation.
Note: /ð/ in demonstrative pronouns is pronounced /ð/
not /v/.
Practice
Listen and repeatΩ
What are you doing, mate?
Put it on the table.
Bottle of water, please.
Thanks for everything.
What happen?
No fear, doctor is here.

17
It’s nice to meet you.
Oh hello!
My head hurts.
Exercise
Pronounce these words correctly:
Head
Hi
Think
Fat
Meet
Pill
Chit-chat
Fail
Mother
Exercise
Pronounce these sentences correctly:
This is house.
My throat hurts.
What have you done?
Clean your hands.
What is the matter?
Get rid of them.
Pretty girl.

18