American English

American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the way people in the United States speak the English language. English is the most common language in the U.S. It is used in schools, government, and business everywhere in the country and in all U.S. territories except Puerto Rico. Since the late 20th century, American English has become very important around the world.

Varieties of American English include different ways of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. These are the same across the country but different from English spoken in other places. Some people with no strong local, ethnic, or cultural markers are said to speak General American. The way American English sounds keeps changing, with some local accents fading, but new bigger regional accents appearing in the 20th century.

History

The use of English in the United States began with British colonization of the Americas. The first English-speaking settlers arrived in North America in the early 1700s. More settlers came later. People from many parts of England and the British Isles settled in the Thirteen Colonies. They mixed their different ways of speaking, which made American English more the same across places.

By the middle of the 1700s, people saw that American English was more alike than British English. Over time, American English developed new ways of speaking in different places, influenced by people who came from many languages. For example, Ulster Scots immigrants helped shape Appalachian English, and the Great Migration spread African-American Vernacular English to cities around the Great Lakes.

Phonology

Main article: General American

See also: American and British English pronunciation differences and Comparison of General American and Received Pronunciation

Most American English accents are called General American. These accents are seen as neutral and not tied to any one place or group. Many Americans use these accents, especially in formal settings or if they have a lot of education.

General American accents are now more common across the United States, especially in cities. Younger Americans often use these accents instead of older regional ones. The way people say words is also changing, with new trends in pronunciation spreading across the country.

American English has some unique ways of saying words compared to British English. For example, Americans usually say all the “r” sounds at the end of words. They also say “t” and “d” sounds in the middle of words the same way — like in “metal” and “medal.” There are also special ways Americans say vowel sounds that are different from British pronunciation.

Vocabulary

See also: Comparison of American and British English § Vocabulary

American English has many unique words from different places. When British settlers came to North America, they borrowed names from Native American languages for local animals and plants. Words such as opossum, raccoon, squash, and moose all came from these languages.

American English also includes words from other languages. For example, words like cookie came from Dutch, and kindergarten came from German. There are also many differences between American English and British English in everyday words. For example, Americans say apartment where British people say "flat," and they say vacation instead of "holiday."

Grammar and orthography

Main articles: American and British English grammatical differences and American and British English spelling differences

American English and British English have very small differences in grammar and spelling. A famous American dictionary called Webster's Dictionary was written by Noah Webster in 1828. It helped set some spelling rules.

Some grammar differences are small, like saying "he ran quick" instead of "he ran quickly." There are also small differences in past tense verbs, like "learned" in American English and "learnt" in British English. Spelling differences are also small, such as using "flavor" in American English and "flavour" in British English. American English usually ends words with "‑ize," like "realize," while British English often uses "‑ise." These differences are minor, and both types of English are easy to understand.

Sub-varieties

American English is mostly the same everywhere, but there are some regional and ethnic accents that sound a little different. These accents change the way words are said, and sometimes the words themselves.

Regional accents in American English keep changing. Some become more alike, while others become more different. The East Coast, settled longer ago, has many unique accents, including New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and the South. The Great Lakes area also has its own special sounds.

Other accents, like those in Boston, Pittsburgh, the Upper Midwest, and the Western U.S., have sounds that make them stand out. Most Americans say all their "r" sounds in words, called a rhotic accent. But some places, like eastern New England and New York City, often drop the "r" sound in certain words.

New York City and Southern accents are two of the most well-known regional accents. Southern speech is often thought of as a “country” accent. There are also ethnic varieties of English, such as African-American Vernacular English, Chicano English, and Hawaiian Pidgin, that have shaped the way many Americans speak today.

Nationwide usage and status

Main article: Languages of the United States

In 2024, many Americans spoke English at home. It is the language most used in government, schools, and jobs across the United States.

Thirty-two states have laws saying English is an official language. Puerto Rico is different, where Spanish is the main language spoken.