American Accent Decoded

An iPhone course in 69 patterns

The American accent, decoded

Your English is already good. These are the patterns Americans use. Hear each one, see the letters change, and say it the way Americans do.

Coming soon to the App Store
  • Free to start
  • No account
  • No subscription
  • Works offline
A pattern page in the app: T becomes a quick D, with water written and said as wadder, and tiles for better, little, city and party

One pattern changes hundreds of words

Americans don’t say “wah-ter.” Between vowels, a T becomes a quick D. Learn that once and you hear it everywhere.

vowel + T + quick part → quick D

water wadder

  • betterbedder
  • littleliddle
  • citysiddy
  • gettinggedding
  • partypardy
  • laterlayder
  • mattermadder
  • datadayda

Read the whole pattern: T becomes a quick D

Hear it. Train your ear. Say it.

  1. Hear it in the app: tiles such as firing, not fighting, each played with a tap

    Hear it

    The voice says each word while the letters change in front of you. Tap Slowly to hear it slower.

  2. Can you hear it? in the app: play a word, then pick live or leave

    Train your ear

    Can you hear it? plays one of two words that sound close, such as ship and sheep. You pick the one you heard.

  3. Say it in the app: listen, then record yourself. Only you hear it; nothing is kept

    Say it

    Record yourself and hear your voice beside the voice of the course. Only you hear it, and nothing is kept.

The course: 69 patterns in five parts

Start with the sounds that change, then words, the way words join, the music of a sentence, and clear pronunciation.

See all 69 patterns

Calm by design

The American accent for speakers of 26 languages

Each first language leaves its own marks on English. Pick yours to see which patterns to start with.

Questions

Is American Accent Decoded free?

All of Sounds, the first part of the course, is free for good: 13 patterns with their audio and practice. One purchase opens the rest of the 69 patterns. There is no subscription, and Family Sharing is included.

Does the app score or grade my voice?

No. Nothing grades your voice. You record yourself and hear your voice beside the voice of the course, and you decide. Can you hear it? checks your ear on pairs that sound close.

Which accent does it teach?

General American, the accent most people in the United States would call everyday American English. The full form of a word is always fine; the course shows how Americans say it in everyday talk.

Who is it for?

People whose English is already good and who want to sound American: professionals, students and anyone who works or lives with Americans. It has notes for speakers of 26 first languages.

Do I need an account or the internet?

No account, and the course works offline. Only buying or restoring the purchase needs a connection.

Is my voice recorded or uploaded?

Your recordings stay on your iPhone, are never uploaded, and are deleted when you leave the page. The app collects no data.

What is a pattern?

One idea that works across many words. T becomes a quick D is a pattern: water becomes “wadder,” better becomes “bedder” and city becomes “siddy.” Learn the pattern once and it changes how you say hundreds of words.

I learned British English. Will this help?

Yes. The course points out where the two differ, such as the R in car, the quick D in water and the A in can’t. Both accents are good English.

Sound like you live here

Thirteen patterns are free, with all their audio and practice.

Coming soon to the App Store