Perhaps the biggest difference between British and American English lies in the pronunciation. In British English, many vowels have different sounds and are usually not nasalized. Some important differences are:

- Stressed vowels are usually longer in American English. In packet, for example, the "a" is longer.

- In British English, the "a" in words like can't, class and fast is pronounced at the back of the mouth whereas in America English it's pronounced at the front of the mouth.
- In British English the consonant /r/ is pronounced only before a vowel (for example in red and  bedroom). In all other cases the /r/ is silent, sounding more similar to the sound "ah" (for example in  car, learn, over). In American English the /r/ is always pronounced wherever it appears in word.

- In American English the "t" between vowels is pronounced as a soft "d" (/d/), so that writer and rider sound similar. British English speakers usually pronounce the "t" as /t/.

 - The pot is hot - In British English, the "o" in words like pot and hot is pronounced by rounding lips.

     These are just a few of the many differences in pronunciation between British and American English. British English also has a different rhythm, which makes it sounds more "clipped" and emphatic. American English, on the other hand, tends to sound more drawled.

     Keep in mind that even in such a small country as England, you're going to find many different regional accents. One of the most famous, which we've alredy mentioned about in the section "English Around the World", is called Cockney English. Cockney English is the variety of English spoken by a large segment of the working-class in London. One immediately recognizable characteristics of Cockney pronunciation is the dropping of the inital -h. Thus, the sentence "I have a horrible hangover" sounds like "I've an 'orrible 'angover."Curiously enough, international rock star Mick Jagger sometimes adopts a "Cockney" or "Cockney-like" accent to sing his songs.

analyze

analyse

analisar

aluminum

aluminium

alumínio

catalog

catalogue

catálogo

center

centre

centro

check (noun)

cheque

cheque

color

colour

cor

defense

defence

defesa

enroll

enrol

inscrever-se, matricular-se, alistar-se

fulfill

fulfil

realizar, cumprir, satisfazer

honor

honour

honra

gray

grey

cinza

jewelry

jewellery

joia

labor

labour

trabalho, mão-de-obra

liter

litre

litro

meter

metre

metro

neighbor

neighbour

vizinho

offense

offence

ofensa

organize

organise/organize

organizar

pajamas

pyjamas

pijama

paralyze

paralyse

paralisar

practice/practise (verb)

practise

praticar

program

programme

programa

realize

realise

perceber

skillful

skilful

hábil

theater/theatre

theatre

teatro

tire

tyre

pneu

traveled

travelled

viajado, viajou

whiskey

(Scotch) whisky, (Irish) whiskey

uísque