Someone who speaks with a particular accent pronounces the words of a language in a distinctive way that shows which country, region, or social class they come from.
He had developed a slight American accent.
Synonyms: pronunciation, tone, articulation, inflection More Synonyms of accent
2. countable noun
An accent is a short line or other mark which is written above certain letters in some languages and which indicates the way those letters are pronounced.
3. singular noun
If you put the accenton a particular feature of something, you emphasize it or give it special importance.
He is putting the accent on military readiness. [+ on]
There is often a strong accent on material success.
Synonyms: emphasis, stress, importance, priority More Synonyms of accent
More Synonyms of accent
accent in British English
noun (ˈæksənt)
1.
the characteristic mode of pronunciation of a person or group, esp one that betrays social or geographical origin
2.
the relative prominence of a spoken or sung syllable, esp with regard to stress or pitch
Compare pitch1 (sense 28), stress (sense 3)
3.
a mark (such as ˈ, ˌ, ´ or `) used in writing to indicate the stress or prominence of a syllable. Such a mark may also be used to indicate that a written syllable is to be pronounced, esp when such pronunciation is not usual, as in turnèd
4.
any of various marks or symbols conventionally used in writing certain languages to indicate the quality of a vowel, or for some other purpose, such as differentiation of homographs
acute (sense 10), grave2 (sense 5), circumflex
5.
(in some languages, such as Chinese) any of the tones that have phonemic value in distinguishing one word from another
Compare tone (sense 7)
6.
rhythmic stress in verse or prose
7. music
a.
stress placed on certain notes in a piece of music, indicated by a symbol printed over the note concerned
b.
the rhythmic pulse of a piece or passage, usually represented as the stress on the first beat of each bar
See also syncopation
8. mathematics
either of two superscript symbols indicating a specific unit, such as feet (′), inches (″), minutes of arc (′), or seconds of arc (″)
9.
a distinctive characteristic of anything, such as taste, pattern, style, etc
10.
particular attention or emphasis
an accent on learning
11.
a strongly contrasting detail
a blue rug with red accents
verb (ækˈsɛnt)(transitive)
12.
to mark with an accent in writing, speech, music, etc
13.
to lay particular emphasis or stress on
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin accentus, from ad- to + cantus chant, song. The Latin is a rendering of Greek prosōidia a song sung to music, the tone of a syllable
accent in American English
(ˈækˌsɛnt; Chiefly British ˈæksənt; for v., ˈækˌsɛnt; ækˈsɛnt)
noun
1.
the emphasis (by stress, pitch, or both) given to a particular syllable or word whenit is spoken
2.
a mark used in writing or printing to show the placing and kind of this emphasis, as in the primary (ˈ) and secondary (ˌ) accenting of English (acˈcelerˌator, ˌacaˈdemically, etc.)
3.
a mark used to distinguish between various sounds represented by the same letter
in French there are acute (´), grave (ˋ), and circumflex (^) accents
4.
the pitch contour of a phrase
5.
a.
a distinguishing regional or national manner of pronunciation
Irish accent, Southern accent
b.
a manner of articulating the sounds of another language that is influenced by the phonology of one's native language
speaking Russian with a heavy Midwestern American accent
6. [often pl.]
a voice modulation expressive of an emotion
accents of love
7. [pl.]; OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
speech; words; utterance
in accents mild
8.
a distinguishing style of expression
9.
a striking or prominent feature of any artistic composition
the classical accent of a pillar
10.
an object or detail that lends emphasis, as by contrast with that which surrounds it
11.
special emphasis or attention
to put the accent on highway construction
12.
a mark used with a number or letter, as in mathematics to indicate a variable (a), or in measurement of length (10′ 5″, ten feet five inches) or of time (3′ 16″, three minutes sixteen seconds)
13. Music
a.
emphasis or stress on a note or chord
b.
a mark or sign showing this
14. Music and Prosody
rhythmic stress or beat
verb transitive
15.
to pronounce (a syllable, word, or phrase) with special stress
16.
to mark with an accent
17.
to emphasize
Word origin
Fr < L accentus < ad-, to + cantus, pp. of canere, to sing: a L rendering of Gr prosōidia (see prosody), orig. referring to the pitch scheme of Gr verse
Examples of 'accent' in a sentence
accent
One had blue eyes and blond hair and spoke with a northern accent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Liverpool was right, but too distinctive an accent and place.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He asked me with a strong French accent where my ring was.
The Sun (2017)
And all because they couldn't find a woman of colour with a regional accent in time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is the language, the accent, people who live on the internet have forged.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He speaks with a strong South African accent.
The Sun (2016)
Born in Kent and talks with an American accent!
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I do a great Paisley Scottish accent.
The Sun (2016)
But it was unusual to hear the script delivered in a northern accent for once.
The Sun (2011)
This patronising voice with a whine and an awful regional accent was talking.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Uses voice recognition to train you on accents and pronunciation.
The Sun (2012)
Perhaps that accent goes some way to explaining it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Each song reflects its different writer in distinctive accents.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Where does this accent failure come from?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She switches effortlessly between regional accents to suit the person in front of her.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All had northern accents and almost all said their accent had been mentioned by mentors at their schools.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can see that today from the number of different languages and accents you can hear in the crowd.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She will presumably be able to tell him why some accents and some languages just sound nicer than others.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why does it have to be a Scottish accent?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The exhibition will also show how Victorians were acutely aware of how accents betrayed their class status.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The guy in shorts with a really strong Aussie accent may have a billion dollars.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Her American accent was all over the place.
The Sun (2006)
I hung on his heavily accented speeches.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The flat Black Country accent is peerless for delivering these kind of pronouncements.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And to keep quiet when he's visiting, so no one hears the accent.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was all delivered in a broad West Country accent.
John Cornwell Seminary Boy (2006)
Quotations
The accent of one's birthplace lingers in the mind and in the heart as it does in one's speechDuc de la RochefoucauldMaximes
I don't have an English accent because this is what English sounds like when spokenproperlyJimmy CarrThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno (US TV chat show)
In other languages
accent
British English: accent NOUN
Someone who speaks with a particular accent pronounces the words of a language in a distinctive way that shows which country, region, or social class they come from.
He had developed a slight American accent.
American English: accent
Brazilian Portuguese: acento
Chinese: 口音
European Spanish: acento
French: accent
German: Akzent
Italian: accento
Japanese: なまり
Korean: 억양
European Portuguese: sotaque
Latin American Spanish: acento
All related terms of 'accent'
acute accent
the diacritical mark (´), used in the writing system of some languages to indicate that the vowel over which it is placed has a special quality (as in French é t é ) or that it receives the strongest stress in the word (as in Spanish hablé )
grave accent
a mark ( ˋ ) used to indicate:
Oxford accent
the accent associated with Oxford English
pitch accent
(in languages such as Ancient Greek or modern Swedish ) an accent in which emphatic syllables are pronounced on a higher musical pitch relative to other syllables
tonic accent
emphasis imparted to a note by virtue of its having a higher pitch , rather than greater stress or long duration relative to other notes
primary accent
the strongest accent in a word or breath group, as that on the first syllable of agriculture
secondary accent
(in a system of transcribing utterances recognizing three levels of stress ) the accent on a syllable of a word or breath group that is weaker than the primary accent but stronger than the lack of stress
circumflex
A circumflex or a circumflex accent is a symbol written over a vowel in French and other languages, usually to indicate that it should be pronounced longer than usual . It is used for example in the word ' r ôle'.
Chinese translation of 'accent'
accent
(ˈæksɛnt)
n(c)
(= pronunciation) 口音 (kǒuyīn) (种(種), zhǒng)
(= written mark) 重音符号(號) (zhòngyīn fúhào) (个(個), gè)
to speak with an (Irish/French) accent讲(講)话(話)带(帶)(爱(愛)尔(爾)兰(蘭)/法国(國))口音 (jiǎnghuà dài (Ài'ěrlán/Fǎguó) kǒuyīn)
to have a strong/German accent带(帶)有浓(濃)重的/德国(國)口音 (dài yǒu nóngzhòng de/Déguó kǒuyīn)
the accent is on ... (= emphasis, stress) 重点(點)在 ... (zhòngdiǎn zài ... )
to put the accent on sth将(將)着(著)重点(點)放在某事上 (jiāng zhuózhòngdiǎn fàng zài mǒushì shang)
1 (noun)
Definition
the distinctive style of pronunciation of a person or group from a particular area, country, or social background
He has developed a slight American accent.
Synonyms
pronunciation
You'll have to forgive my bad French pronunciation.
tone
He spoke in a low tone to her.
articulation
an actor able to sustain clear articulation over long periods
inflection
His voice was devoid of inflection.
brogue
intonation
His voice had a very slight German intonation.
diction
Clear diction is important in public speaking.
modulation
elocution
He took courses in elocution and acting at the London Academy.
enunciation
accentuation
2 (noun)
Definition
the stress on a syllable or musical note
Talk very fast and put an accent on every third word.
Synonyms
stress
the misplaced stress on the first syllable
force
slamming the door behind her with all her force
beat
emphasis
The emphasis is on the first syllable of the word.
rhythm
His music fused the rhythms of jazz and classical music.
cadence
There was a sudden shift in the cadence of the music.
timbre
accentuation
ictus
3 (noun)
Definition
particular emphasis
There is often a strong accent on material success.
Synonyms
emphasis
Too much emphasis is placed on research.
stress
schools that put more stress on practical activities
importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
priority
significance
ideas about the social significance of religion
insistence
prominence
He came to prominence during the last World Cup.
underscoring
(verb)
Definition
to lay particular emphasis on
She had a round face accented by a little white cap.
Synonyms
emphasize
I should emphasize that nothing has been finally decided as yet.
stress
He stressed the need for new measures.
highlight
Two events have highlighted the tensions in recent days.
underline
The report underlined his concern that standards were at risk.
bring home
underscore
accentuate
His shaven head accentuates his large round face.
foreground
give emphasis to
call or draw attention to
Quotations
The accent of one's birthplace lingers in the mind and in the heart as it does in one's speech [Duc de la Rochefoucauld – Maximes]I don't have an English accent because this is what English sounds like when spoken properly [Jimmy Carr – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (US TV chat show)]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accentuate
Definition
to stress or emphasize
His shaven head accentuates his large round face.
Synonyms
emphasize,
stress,
highlight,
accent,
underline,
bring home,
underscore,
foreground,
give emphasis to,
call or draw attention to
in the sense of articulation
Definition
the expressing of an idea in words
an actor able to sustain clear articulation over long periods