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accent
/ˈæksənt/
distinctive way of pronouncing words
Her British accent made her stand out in the American classroom.
The way she pronounced words revealed her origin.
general
A distinctive way of pronouncing words, often associated with a particular region or social group.
He speaks with a strong Southern accent.
His pronunciation reflects his regional background.
Her French accent is very noticeable when she speaks English.
Her pronunciation patterns are influenced by her native language.
Accents can vary widely within a single language due to regional, social, or cultural factors.
linguistics/music
Emphasis or prominence given to a particular syllable or note in speech or music.
In Spanish, the accent falls on the second-to-last syllable unless marked otherwise.
The pronunciation rules dictate where stress is placed in words.
The composer used accent marks to indicate where the musicians should emphasize certain notes.
Musical notation guides performers on how to stress parts of a piece.
In linguistics, this refers to prosodic features like stress or tone.
Collocations
lose one's accentto speak without the distinctive pronunciation of one's native languageregional accenta way of speaking associated with a specific geographic areaput the accent onto emphasize or focus on something
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Accent vs. Dialect
An accent refers to pronunciation, while a dialect includes vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation differences.
Gold Rule
Respect Accents
Avoid mocking or judging people based on their accents, as it can be offensive.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'accent,' from Latin 'accentus,' meaning 'song, recitation, tone of voice,' from 'ad-' (to) + 'cantus' (song).
Usage Notes
Accents are often stigmatized or celebrated depending on social and cultural contexts. Some accents may be associated with higher or lower social status.
Word Breakdown
ac-
to
prefix-cent
song, recitation
rootEnglish Dictionary