How to Speak American English

Using American Language

1. Adopt the way that Americans use articles in everyday speech. In English, the articles are 'the,' 'a,' and 'an.' The way that Americans use these articles is unique when compared to other forms of English, but there are no strict rules for how to use them. In general, the article is only dropped for 'church,' 'college,' 'class,' and a few other nouns. Try to repeat back a phrase that sounds odd to you by using the new article to get used to it.^[1]

   1. An American would say they 'go to college,' but they'd also say 'go to the university.'
   2. A British or Irish speaker would say they 'went to hospital,' but an American speaker always goes to 'the hospital.'
   3. The difference between using 'a' and 'an' isn't the first letter that follows the article. It's actually whether the sound of the first syllable is a vowel or consonant. You always use 'an' with vowel sounds, and 'a' consonants. Since Americans pronounce 'honor' like 'on-er,' it's 'an honor' to meet someone if you're speaking American English.
   4. Article usage is one of the things that can make learning English so difficult. Stick with it and you'll get used to using the proper articles over time.

2. Use American terms for everyday items to blend in. Like Australian, British, and Irish English, there are a plethora of words that are unique to American English. Using a term like 'motorway' or 'ice lolly' is a dead giveaway that you aren't an American English speaker. If you want to blend in, get used to using American terms and work on committing them to memory by using them every day.^[2]

   1. It can be tough to get used to using American terminology if you aren't familiar with it. Give it time. You'll get used to it the more you talk and listen to Americans.
   2. Watching a lot of American movies and shows can give you a good sense of the everyday phrases that Americans use. If you can't figure a word out based on context alone, write it down to look it up later.

   Common American Phrases

    

   Use "restroom/bathroom" instead of "toilet/lavatory/loo."

   Use "elevator" instead of "lift."

   Use "trunk" instead of "boot."

   Use "freeway" instead of "motorway."

   Use "sweater" instead of "jumper."

   Use 'pants' instead of 'trousers.'

   Use "vest" instead of "waistcoat" (the shirt worn under clothing is often called an undershirt).

   Use "sneakers" or 'tennis shoes' instead of "trainers."

   Use "diaper" instead of "nappy."

   Use "vacation" instead of "holiday" (holidays tend to mean national bank holidays only or the holiday season around Christmas).

   Use "bag of chips" instead of "packet of crisps."

   Use "gasoline" instead of "petrol," and "gas station" instead of "filling station," or "petrol station."

   Use "truck" instead of "lorry."

3. Get used to American idioms by incorporating them in your speech. Americans have a lot of idioms, which are culturally-recognized phrases that differ from a phrase's literal meaning. For example, when an American says that it is 'raining cats and dogs,' they mean that it's raining hard, not that animals are falling out of the sky. When you hear an idiom, ask what it means and then try using it in your everyday conversation to get used to it. You'll learn lots of idioms over time simply by trying them out.^[3]

   1. 'I could care less' actually means 'I couldn't care less' in American English. While this isn't technically an idiom, it is an odd phrase that means something different than what it literally communicates.

   Common American Idioms

    

   A 'cat nap' is a short rest.

   A 'Hancock' is a person's signature.

   If you're 'barking up the wrong tree,' you're looking in the wrong place or accusing the wrong person.

   A 'far cry' is a big difference between two things.

   If you're giving someone 'the benefit of the doubt,' you trust them without proof or evidence.

   If you 'see eye to eye" with someone, you're in total agreement.

   To 'kill two birds with one stone' is to accomplish two things at once.

   A 'last straw' is the final problem that forces something to happen.

   If you have 'the best of both worlds,' then you have all of the advantages from two options.

   If you're 'hanging out,' it means that you're relaxing.

   'What's up?' means 'what is going on?' or 'what do you need?'