🤐 Stop Saying... British and American English pronunciation - NOW WITH SUBTITLES!

Stop Saying

From BBC Learning English dot com.

Hi, my name is Viviana, and I come from Ecuador.

In one of your videos, you say the stress on the  word 'advertisement' was on the second syllable,  

but I've also heard it as 'advertisement.'  

Is this a difference between American and  British English? Which others are there?"

Hi, Tim here, and yes, you're right. I was using  the British English pronunciation because, guess  

what? Well, I'm bally well British, aren't I? The  American stress pattern is slightly different, and  

to help me show you this, you're going to hear my  friend Tessa from across the pond. Hi, Tessa.

Hi, Tim.

In UK English, we say 'advertisement.'

In US English, it's 'advertisement.'   

Not only does the stress pattern change, but so does one of the sounds: 'iss' becomes 'ayes.' So, there we are,  

all of the differences between US and UK English,  all wrapped up in one tidy little bundle just for  

you. Right? Wrong. Ah, would that it were so  simple. Well, if you're sitting comfortably,  

let me whizz you through some of the other  differences. Other words also have different  

stress patterns. A good dictionary should  indicate this. For example, 'ballet'

ballet

'debris'

'debris'

There are more like this

especially when the word has come into English  from French. But here are some other examples:  

'rotate'

'rotate'

'translate'

'translate'

Sometimes the vowel sounds change  too. Listen to the difference between these:  

'missile'

'missile'

'mobile'

'mobile'

And, in short words: 'new'

'new' 

'tube'

'tube'

'glass'

'glass'

And let's not forget consonants:  

'writer'

'water'

Then there are some really famous ones which  I don't really know the reason for,  

but just be aware of them: 'aluminium' 

'oregano'

'vitamin'

'yogurt'

I say, thanks awfully, Tessa.

You betcha.

Well, there we go, a lightning-fast tour of just some of the differences between UK and US pronunciation. But  

just remember, whichever form you use, it doesn't  really matter: people will still understand you.  

Thanks, team. You seem thirsty. You look like you  need a glass of water. Or should that be 'a glass of water'? 

Oh, I don't really mind, as long as it's  cold and wet - a bit like the English weather.