How to pronounce British
Say it like BRIT-ish. British has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce British. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRIT
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
British pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of British
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BRIT-ish.
What does British mean?
- of or relating to or characteristic of Great Britain or its people or culture“his wife is British”
- the people of Great Britain
Words that rhyme with British
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of British.
Questions about saying British
How do you pronounce British?
Say BRIT-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in British?
British has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRIT). Broken into parts: BRIT · ish.
Is British pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/ (BRIT-ish).