Accent
noun
The way people in a particular area, country, or social group pronounce words.
He spoke with an American accent.
Often appears as...
- speak with an accent
- heavy accent
verb
To emphasize a particular feature.
She accented the first syllable of the word.
Often appears as...
- accent a syllable
- accent a word
noun
A distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular nation, locality, or social class.
A French accent.
Often appears as...
- thick accent
- foreign accent
noun
A mark on a letter, typically a vowel, to indicate pitch, stress, or vowel quality.
The accent on the letter 'e' in 'résumé'.
Often appears as...
- acute accent
- grave accent
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To emphasize something or make it more noticeable.
Her dress was accented with red accessories.
Often appears as...
- accent with color
- accent with accessories
noun
The way people in a particular area, country, or social group pronounce words.
He spoke with an American accent.
Often appears as...
- speak with an accent
- heavy accent
verb
To emphasize a particular feature.
She accented the first syllable of the word.
Often appears as...
- accent a syllable
- accent a word
noun
A distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular nation, locality, or social class.
A French accent.
Often appears as...
- thick accent
- foreign accent
noun
A mark on a letter, typically a vowel, to indicate pitch, stress, or vowel quality.
The accent on the letter 'e' in 'résumé'.
Often appears as...
- acute accent
- grave accent
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To emphasize something or make it more noticeable.
Her dress was accented with red accessories.
Often appears as...
- accent with color
- accent with accessories
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Region Specific
An accent can reveal where someone is from, often within the same country.
He has a southern accent, so he might be from Texas.
Pro Tip 2/3Accent versus Dialect
Accent refers to pronunciation, while dialect includes grammar and vocabulary differences.
She has a Scottish accent, but she speaks in English dialect.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Perception
An accent can sometimes influence how people are perceived in terms of status or education.
His posh accent made him sound sophisticated.
Pro Tip 1/3Region Specific
An accent can reveal where someone is from, often within the same country.
He has a southern accent, so he might be from Texas.
Pro Tip 2/3Accent versus Dialect
Accent refers to pronunciation, while dialect includes grammar and vocabulary differences.
She has a Scottish accent, but she speaks in English dialect.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Perception
An accent can sometimes influence how people are perceived in terms of status or education.
His posh accent made him sound sophisticated.
Pro Tip 1/3Region Specific
An accent can reveal where someone is from, often within the same country.
He has a southern accent, so he might be from Texas.
Pro Tip 2/3Accent versus Dialect
Accent refers to pronunciation, while dialect includes grammar and vocabulary differences.
She has a Scottish accent, but she speaks in English dialect.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Perception
An accent can sometimes influence how people are perceived in terms of status or education.
His posh accent made him sound sophisticated.
Compare with
articulateemphasisenunciateinflectionintonationmodulatorypronunciationstress
Never forget "Accent"
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Video examples
The secret messages of...
Runes are short, straight, and diagonal lines that make up an alphabet called the “futhark.” All classes of people spoke and wrote this language, in many different dialects. There was no standard spelling, they wrote the individual runic letters by pronouncing the sounds of their regional accents. Some of these inscriptions also bore the influence of other cultures
Video examples
Why I keep speaking up,...
And that story has helped put my own experience into context. So when I first read the comments on the video, my initial reaction was to take it all very personally. But the people commenting did not know how self-conscious I am about my voice. They were mostly reacting to my accent,
Video examples
4 reasons to learn a new...
they have accents, they're not idiomatic. Suddenly these characters that you've fallen in love with become husks of themselves, they're shadows of themselves. To go into a culture and to only ever process people through that kind of skrim curtain is to never truly get the culture.
Video examples
One woman, eight...
these are the philanthropists and artists and scientists who sort of shape our world. And what could I possibly have to say that would be distinguished enough to justify my participation in something like that? And so I thought perhaps a really civilized-sounding British accent
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 304 PIPE...
about it so completely subconsciously I start to speak back to them in their accent which leads to a great amount of misunderstanding because of course they think I'm mocking them and they become quite offended and that's happened to me quite a few times in my life where I've
Video examples
Making robots more like...
understand accents they understand nor in noisy environments so speech is another important thing a six-year-old child has manual dexterity good enough to do any task we ask a factory worker can do in a low-cost production region but our robots are nowhere near as good
Video examples
The benefits of a...
Because all types of bilingual people can become fully proficient in a language regardless of accent or pronunciation, the difference may not be apparent to a casual observer. But recent advances in brain imaging technology have given neurolinguists a glimpse
Video examples
How interpreters juggle...
deal with challenging terminology, and handle a multitude of foreign accents. They may resort to acronyms to shorten long names, choose generic terms over specific, or refer to slides and other visual aides.
Video examples
Sugata Mitra: Build a...
and may have tortured you about your credit card bills in a very clear English accent. So then people said, well, how far will it go? Where does it stop? I decided I would destroy my own argument
Video examples
Why happy couples cheat...
the fear of loss will rekindle desire and make way for an entirely new kind of truth now you've listened to me and i know what you're thinking she has a french accent she must be pro-affair
Video examples
The secret messages of...
Runes are short, straight, and diagonal lines that make up an alphabet called the “futhark.” All classes of people spoke and wrote this language, in many different dialects. There was no standard spelling, they wrote the individual runic letters by pronouncing the sounds of their regional accents. Some of these inscriptions also bore the influence of other cultures
Video examples
Why I keep speaking up,...
And that story has helped put my own experience into context. So when I first read the comments on the video, my initial reaction was to take it all very personally. But the people commenting did not know how self-conscious I am about my voice. They were mostly reacting to my accent,
Video examples
4 reasons to learn a new...
they have accents, they're not idiomatic. Suddenly these characters that you've fallen in love with become husks of themselves, they're shadows of themselves. To go into a culture and to only ever process people through that kind of skrim curtain is to never truly get the culture.
Video examples
One woman, eight...
these are the philanthropists and artists and scientists who sort of shape our world. And what could I possibly have to say that would be distinguished enough to justify my participation in something like that? And so I thought perhaps a really civilized-sounding British accent
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 304 PIPE...
about it so completely subconsciously I start to speak back to them in their accent which leads to a great amount of misunderstanding because of course they think I'm mocking them and they become quite offended and that's happened to me quite a few times in my life where I've
Video examples
Making robots more like...
understand accents they understand nor in noisy environments so speech is another important thing a six-year-old child has manual dexterity good enough to do any task we ask a factory worker can do in a low-cost production region but our robots are nowhere near as good
Video examples
The benefits of a...
Because all types of bilingual people can become fully proficient in a language regardless of accent or pronunciation, the difference may not be apparent to a casual observer. But recent advances in brain imaging technology have given neurolinguists a glimpse
Video examples
How interpreters juggle...
deal with challenging terminology, and handle a multitude of foreign accents. They may resort to acronyms to shorten long names, choose generic terms over specific, or refer to slides and other visual aides.
Video examples
Sugata Mitra: Build a...
and may have tortured you about your credit card bills in a very clear English accent. So then people said, well, how far will it go? Where does it stop? I decided I would destroy my own argument
Video examples
Why happy couples cheat...
the fear of loss will rekindle desire and make way for an entirely new kind of truth now you've listened to me and i know what you're thinking she has a french accent she must be pro-affair
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Viola Davis
American Actress
I've been online doing all kinds of research and that seems to be the constant criticism, that Aibileen's accent was just too thick. And for me, I don't want anything to distract from the character.
Quote examples
Kevin McKidd
Scottish Actor
I actually love working with accents. I don't know, something about it unlocks something in me. It makes me concentrate on getting into character a little more, helps me find a focus.
Quote examples
Kenneth Lonergan
American Playwright
I know there are some actors who won't switch their accents off when they're on set and like to be called by their character's names. That works for them, and that's great.
Quote examples
Jimmy O. Yang
Chinese Actor
I've heard other actors saying they don't want to play a character with an accent at all. To me, that's kind of an insult to somebody like me who did have an accent.
Quote examples
Katie Leclerc
American Actress
In my normal life, I do not speak with an accent. It's harder for people to realize my hearing loss in everyday life.
Quote examples
Kevin Zegers
Canadian Actor
I have always like doing accents; I find it much easier to get into character for me.
Quote examples
Chuck Inglish
American Musician
Music controls moods and accents life's moments. It's necessary for every situation.
Quote examples
Sarah Snook
Australian Actress
I love playing characters with different accents. It's a lot of fun.
Quote examples
Heath Ledger
Australian Actor
It's rare that there's a role that requires an Australian accent.
Quote examples
Elvis Duran
American Entertainer
My voice was awkward. I had a deep Texan accent.
Quote examples
Viola Davis
American Actress
I've been online doing all kinds of research and that seems to be the constant criticism, that Aibileen's accent was just too thick. And for me, I don't want anything to distract from the character.
Quote examples
Kevin McKidd
Scottish Actor
I actually love working with accents. I don't know, something about it unlocks something in me. It makes me concentrate on getting into character a little more, helps me find a focus.
Quote examples
Kenneth Lonergan
American Playwright
I know there are some actors who won't switch their accents off when they're on set and like to be called by their character's names. That works for them, and that's great.
Quote examples
Jimmy O. Yang
Chinese Actor
I've heard other actors saying they don't want to play a character with an accent at all. To me, that's kind of an insult to somebody like me who did have an accent.
Quote examples
Katie Leclerc
American Actress
In my normal life, I do not speak with an accent. It's harder for people to realize my hearing loss in everyday life.
Quote examples
Kevin Zegers
Canadian Actor
I have always like doing accents; I find it much easier to get into character for me.
Quote examples
Chuck Inglish
American Musician
Music controls moods and accents life's moments. It's necessary for every situation.
Quote examples
Sarah Snook
Australian Actress
I love playing characters with different accents. It's a lot of fun.
Quote examples
Heath Ledger
Australian Actor
It's rare that there's a role that requires an Australian accent.
Quote examples
Elvis Duran
American Entertainer
My voice was awkward. I had a deep Texan accent.
Example 1 of 10
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