Hear the Difference: UK Accents Explained Simply
- Claire Hayward
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
It can be confusing and frustrating when someone speaks English with a British accent you haven't heard before. Within the UK, there are many regional accents and not just one ''British'' accent. Below, I will give you some insight into some common accents within the UK and some example phrases.
What Is an Accent?
An accent refers to the way someone pronounces words. A dialect is a more broader term to explain the variation between pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and informal language. Accents can vary between places depending on history, the region and social factors.
Key British Accents and How They Sound
Received Pronunciation (RP) – “The Queen’s English”
''The Queen's English'' is the main accent which is heard on the news, in the media, mainly across southern England and in formal settings. The main features of this accent include clear pronunciation and non-rhotic accents. Non-rhotic refers to when people don't pronounce the /r/ after a vowel and isn't followed by another vowel. For example, car, tart.
Cockney (East London)
East London is the home to the cockney accent which is often seen in films and tv shows. Some famous features of this accent are the dropping of the Hs, rhyming slang and glottal stops. Glottal stops are when a person replaces /t/ with a brief stop and release of air in the throat. Common examples are 'butter - bu'er' or 'water - wa'er'. Some common cockney slang is:
apples and pears - stairs
dog and bone - phone
butcher's hook - look
Adam and Eve - believe
Scouse (Liverpool)
The scouse accent is native to Liverpool and famous speakers include The Beatles. There are some key distinct features of this accent including, /k/ sounds like /x/, glottal stops, foot-strut; pronouncing foot and strut with the same vowel sound.
Geordie (Newcastle area)
Geordie accent is native to the North of England and the surrounding areas of Newcastle. It is known for its unique vowel sounds, glottal stops and distinct intonation. Some sounds include, /ɑː/ sound in words like 'bath', Geordies pronounce with /æ/. The /ʌ/ sound in supper is pronounced with /ʊ/. The /ɔː/ sound in talk and walk is pronounced with /ɑː/.
Yorkshire (Northern England)
Yorkshire is a big part of Northern England and is a distinctive accent in the UK. Some features include unique vowel sounds, including the use of short 'a' vowels in 'dance' and 'bath'. Monophthongs (one tone and one mouth position when saying sounds) for 'face' and 'goat.
Scottish (Various regions)
There are various regions in Scotland and some specific features of the accent include rhotic accent (pronouncing /r/ after vowels), dropping 'g' sounds at the end of -ing, for example walkin', and short, sharp vowel sounds.
Welsh English
The Welsh accent is influenced by the Welsh language. Some features include, a rising and falling intonation rhyme which makes it sound like a song and a rolling or tapping of the /r/ sound.
Northern Irish
Northern Irish accent is a blend of unique sounds from Scotland and Ireland. Some key features include using rhotic in all positions (pronouncing /r/ sound) and a distinct 'oo' sound in words like 'goose'.
Tips for Understanding UK Accents
Don’t focus on individual words—listen to the rhythm.
Watch UK TV shows and films with subtitles. Start with subtitles, once you become familiar with the sounds, gradually turn off the subtitles. Regularly stop the show or film to understand and follow.
Practice with real speakers or audio resources, such as podcasts, radio, etc.
Use listening apps, TikTok and YouTube accent comparison videos.
Should You Learn a British Accent?
In the beginning, listening and understanding is more important than copying and imitating. You need to be able to hear the different sounds, pronunciations and follow a conversation. Received pronunciation (RP) is the most neutral and easier for learners to learn, however, regional accents are great and fun too and if you want to learn one, choose based on your goals or exposure.
To recap; British English isn't just one accent, it's a whole host of fun and unique regional accents. Enjoy listening to a variety of accents from a variety of people to understand more about the language as well as the culture.
If you want help with your pronunciation, book a FREE trial lesson today!
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