accent
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for accent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typical of a region, country, or social group.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use accent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin accentus, "song added to speech," from ad- ("to") plus canere ("to sing") — literally a "singing toward" a word, referring to spoken stress.
Full origin of accent →Frequently asked questions
What does “accent” mean?
The word “accent” means a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typical of a region, country, or social group. In plain terms, most often refers to a regional or foreign way of pronouncing words, but also covers pronunciation marks and design highlights.
How do you pronounce “accent”?
“Accent” is pronounced AK-suhnt (/ˈæk.sɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “accent” in a sentence?
Here is “accent” used in a sentence: “She still has a slight French accent after years of living abroad.”
What part of speech is “accent”?
Depending on how it is used, “accent” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “accent” come from?
The word “accent” comes from Latin. From Latin accentus, "song added to speech," from ad- ("to") plus canere ("to sing") — literally a "singing toward" a word, referring to spoken stress.
Is “accent” a common word?
“Accent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “accent” have?
“Accent” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typical of a region, country, or social group.
What is the difference between "accent" and "dialect"?
An "accent" is a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typical of a region, country, or social group, so it concerns sound only. A "dialect" includes not just pronunciation but also distinctive vocabulary and grammar. An accent is part of a dialect, but a dialect covers more than pronunciation.
What is the difference between an "accent" and pronunciation?
"Pronunciation" is how any individual word or sound is spoken, and it can be judged correct or incorrect word by word. An "accent" is the overall pattern of pronunciation that marks a speaker as belonging to a region or group. Everyone has an accent, but pronunciation is assessed at the level of single words.
What is the difference between an accent mark and a diacritic?
An "accent" in writing is a mark placed over a letter to show pronunciation or stress, as in "café" or "résumé." "Diacritic" is the broader technical term for any such mark added to a letter, including accents, tildes, and cedillas. Accent marks are one type of diacritic.