How to pronounce accent
Say it like AK-sent. Accent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce accent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AK
- sent
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Accent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- sentGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of accent
American and British speakers say accent in essentially the same way: /ˈækˌsɛnt/ in the US and /ˈækˌsɛnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: AK-sent.
Other ways to say accent
Accent also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- uk-SENT /əkˈsɛnt/
What does accent mean?
- distinctive manner of oral expression“he couldn't suppress his contemptuous accent”“she had a very clear speech pattern”
- special importance or significance“the red light gave the central figure increased emphasis”“the room was decorated in shades of grey with distinctive red accents”
- the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people“the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English”“he has a strong German accent”
- to stress, single out as important“Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet”
- put stress on; utter with an accent“In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word”
Where does accent come from?
Inherited from Middle English accent, from Medieval Latin accentus and Old French accent, acent, both from Latin accentus, past participle of accinō (“sing to, sing along”), from ad- + canō (“to sing”).
Questions about saying accent
How do you pronounce accent?
Say AK-sent. The American pronunciation is /ˈækˌsɛnt/. In British English it is /ˈækˌsɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in accent?
Accent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK). Broken into parts: AK · sent.
Do Americans and Brits say accent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈækˌsɛnt/ and the British form is /ˈækˌsɛnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.