British Accent Audio Library

“Lovely jubbly that was”

“How are you doing today”

“It's lovely to meet you”

“Cheers for the lift home”

“Let's give it a proper go”

“I haven't seen you in ages”

“What a beautiful day it is”

“Do you reckon we'll be late”

“I'm sorted thanks very much”

“It's been one of those days”

“I'll catch up with you later”

“I'm sorry but I have to dash”

“It's pouring with rain again”

“Mind your head as you come in”

“Right, I'd better be off then”

“I think I'll have a quick word”

“It's bloody freezing out there”

“Would you like another biscuit”

“Fancy going for a curry tonight”

“Would you mind passing the salt”

“Could I have a cup of tea please”

“Could you say that one more time”

“I'll have a pint of bitter please”

“I'm just going to nip to the shops”

“I'm absolutely knackered after work”

“I'm afraid I don't quite understand”

“You can pop round any time you like”

“Can I get the bill when you're ready”

“It's just down the road on your left”

“I've been thinking about it all morning”

“Lovely jubbly that was”

“How are you doing today”

“It's lovely to meet you”

“Cheers for the lift home”

“Let's give it a proper go”

“I haven't seen you in ages”

“What a beautiful day it is”

“Do you reckon we'll be late”

“I'm sorted thanks very much”

“It's been one of those days”

“I'll catch up with you later”

“I'm sorry but I have to dash”

“It's pouring with rain again”

“Mind your head as you come in”

“Right, I'd better be off then”

“I think I'll have a quick word”

“It's bloody freezing out there”

“Would you like another biscuit”

“Fancy going for a curry tonight”

“Would you mind passing the salt”

“Could I have a cup of tea please”

“Could you say that one more time”

“I'll have a pint of bitter please”

“I'm just going to nip to the shops”

“I'm absolutely knackered after work”

“I'm afraid I don't quite understand”

“You can pop round any time you like”

“Can I get the bill when you're ready”

“It's just down the road on your left”

“I've been thinking about it all morning”

“Forecasters are warning of heavy snow across the Highlands tonight.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on the leaked memo.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Students across the country received their A-level results this morning.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The new exhibition at the British Museum opens to the public on Tuesday.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Hundreds of people gathered in Trafalgar Square for the annual celebration.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Two new species of butterfly have been identified in woodland near Edinburgh.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Heavy rainfall is expected across the south of England throughout the weekend.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The chancellor will deliver his autumn statement to Parliament next Wednesday.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The new bill is expected to pass through the House of Commons later this week.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The latest figures show unemployment falling for the fifth consecutive quarter.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Tickets for the festival sold out within an hour of going on sale this morning.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Buckingham Palace confirmed the news in a brief statement issued late on Friday.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Inflation eased slightly last month, according to figures released this morning.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The Bank of England has held interest rates steady for the third month in a row.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The charity is asking for donations to help families affected by recent flooding.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Fireworks lit up the sky over the Thames as crowds gathered to welcome the new year.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Officials say the investigation is now in its final stages and a report is imminent.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Several flights from Heathrow have been delayed due to fog over much of the country.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The chairman of the committee will address the press at three o'clock this afternoon.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The Prime Minister announced today that the new measures will take effect next Monday.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident on the High Street last night.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“An independent review has been commissioned to examine the council's spending decisions.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Climate experts have raised concerns about the rising temperatures recorded last summer.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Members of the public are invited to attend the consultation meeting on Thursday evening.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“The football match has been postponed until further notice because of a waterlogged pitch.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Commuters are facing further disruption as engineering works continue on the Northern Line.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Researchers at Oxford have published findings that could change the way the disease is treated.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“A new survey suggests that British shoppers are spending more on local produce than ever before.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Train services from London Paddington have been temporarily suspended due to signalling problems.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“Tomorrow's weather will bring sunshine in the morning, followed by scattered showers in the afternoon.”

BBC-news register. Watch for falling intonation at the end.

“— Right, that's me off home. See you tomorrow. — Have a good evening. Don't work too late! — I won't, thanks. Bye.”

End-of-day farewell — typical British workplace.

“— I'm so sorry I'm late. The traffic was terrible. — No, no, don't worry. I've only just got here myself. Shall we go in?”

Apologising for being late — common social opener.

“— I'd like to return this jumper, please. It's the wrong size. — Of course. Have you got the receipt? — Yes, here you are.”

Returning a purchase — straightforward retail interaction.

“— Excuse me, do you know the way to the station? — Yes, of course. Go straight on, then take the second left. You can't miss it.”

Asking for directions — standard polite RP.

“— Are you ready to order? — Yes, I'll have the fish and chips, please. — Lovely. And anything to drink? — Just a tap water, thanks.”

Restaurant order — pub/cafe register.

“— Hello, I have an appointment with Doctor Patel at eleven. — Take a seat, please. He'll be with you shortly. — Thank you very much.”

Reception desk — formal but warm.

“— I was thinking of popping into town this afternoon. Fancy joining me? — That sounds nice. What time were you thinking? — Around three?”

Casual social plan — invitation phrasing.

“— Could I have a flat white, please? — Certainly. To have here or to take away? — To take away, please. — That'll be three pounds twenty.”

Café order — short, transactional, friendly.

“cap, cup”

Front /æ/ vs central /ʌ/.

“bath, bat”

RP splits: /ɑː/ in bath, /æ/ in bat. American keeps /æ/ in both.

“bit, beat”

Tense vs lax: tongue position is the same; length differs.

“path, pat”

Same split. Long back vowel in path is the most British thing imaginable.

“thin, fin”

/θ/ vs /f/. Cockney famously merges these.

“full, fool”

/ʊ/ short and lax vs /uː/ long and rounded.

“luck, look”

/ʌ/ unrounded vs /ʊ/ rounded. North/South British divide here.

“pull, pool”

Round the lips more for /uː/ than for /ʊ/.

“tale, tail”

Both /teɪl/.

“vain, vein”

Both /veɪn/.

“veil, vale”

Both /veɪl/.

“very, vary”

Often merged in casual RP. Carefully: /ˈvɛri/ vs /ˈvɛəri/.

“berry, bury”

Both /ˈbɛri/ in RP. Some American varieties differ.

“cot, caught”

Distinct in RP: /ɒ/ short open vs /ɔː/ long rounded. Many Americans merge them.

“live, leave”

Same /ɪ/ vs /iː/ contrast in a verb pair.

“ship, sheep”

/ɪ/ short vs /iː/ long. The classic ESL pair.

“three, free”

Same merger in Cockney; in RP they stay distinct.

“where, wear”

Both /wɛə/ in RP. The 'wh' is silent — no aspiration.

“horse, hoarse”

Merged in modern RP — both /hɔːs/. Older speakers split them.

“knight, night”

Identical pronunciation /naɪt/.

“father, farther”

Identical in RP — both /ˈfɑːðə/. Different from rhotic accents.

“Milk and bottle of football”

Dark /l/ becomes /w/ at end of syllable: 'miwk', 'bo'ow', 'foo'baw'.

“I'm having a hot ham sandwich”

Cockney drops the initial /h/ but keeps it within the word.

“She'll feel cool tall and bald”

All those final /l/s vocalise in modern London.

“Three thousand thirsty thieves”

All /θ/ → /f/. Classic test phrase.

“Don't go home alone in the snow”

GOAT /əʊ/ shifts to /aʊ/ in broad Cockney.

“I think my brother is over there”

Cockney: 'I fink my bruvver's over vere'.

“Get a bottle of water at the hotel”

Every /t/ becomes a glottal stop /ʔ/.

“Can you cap the pan and ham the man”

Cockney /æ/ is rather front and short. Practise the openness.

“Hello, Harry, have you had a holiday”

Drop every initial /h/: 'ello, 'arry, 'ave you 'ad an 'oliday'.

“Alright mate, fancy a brew round mine”

Pure London everyday speech. Each word natural.

“I might go to my mate's house tonight”

Cockney FACE /eɪ/ shifts to /aɪ/: 'maoit', 'tonaoit'.

“The sky is high but the time is right”

PRICE /aɪ/ shifts further back to /ɑɪ/.

“Innit bruv, I told you that the weather”

MLE/Cockney: 'innit', 'bruv', 'dat'. /ð/ → /d/ in some registers.

“It's a bit of a shame the game's the same”

Cockney rhythm — relaxed, swung, dropping unstressed vowels.

“What a lot of butter this little kettle has”

Tap any vowel-T-vowel position with a glottal stop.

“Mary, marry, merry”

Stays distinct in RP. 'Merry' /mɛri/, 'marry' /mæri/, 'Mary' /mɛəri/.

“Park the car in the yard”

RP drops every post-vocalic R: 'pahk the cah in the yahd'.

“I would have been there earlier”

'Would have been' compresses to /wʊdəv biːn/. Schwa party.

“I can't dance to that fast class”

All four vowels in those words are long /ɑː/ in RP.

“Rather than gather them together”

/ð/ throughout — different from /θ/ above.

“Please leave the keys near the cheese”

Properly long /iː/ in every stressed syllable.

“She told me to think about the things”

Voiceless and voiced TH together. RP distinguishes both.

“Choose two new shoes through the queue”

Long /uː/ throughout. Tight rounded lips.

“The poor tour was sure to be pure dour”

CURE diphthongs — /ʊə/ — getting rare in young RP.

“The thirteenth thirsty thinker thought”

Tongue-twister for the /θ/ sound.

“Tomorrow I will probably go for a walk”

'Will' becomes /wɪl/ stressed, /əl/ unstressed. 'For a' = /fər ə/.

“He was earning his earnings near the urn”

/ɜː/ vs /ɪə/ vs /ɜː/. Common confusion.

“Let's have a bath in the path-side house”

Long /ɑː/ in 'bath' and 'path' — the BATH split.

“The water in the bottle was getting hotter”

RP keeps a crisp /t/ — never flap to /d/. Hold each one.

“It was an awful, daunting waltz to the lawn”

Long /ɔː/. Round and back.

“Pop your clogs”

Die. Used jokingly, never seriously.

“Spending a penny”

Going to the toilet (old euphemism).

“Taking the mickey”

Teasing someone, often light-heartedly.

“Stop faffing about”

Stop wasting time, get on with it.

“It went down a treat”

Was very well received.

“It's pissing it down”

Casual British for 'it's raining heavily'.

“Don't be such a wally”

Don't be silly. 'Wally' = a fool, gentle.

“It's not my cup of tea”

Polite way of saying 'I don't care for it'.

“I'll be there in a tick”

Very soon. 'Tick' = a moment.

“We had a proper chinwag”

A long friendly conversation.

“We were chuffed to bits”

Very pleased. 'Chuffed' is informal.

“I'm absolutely shattered”

Means very tired. 'Knackered' is the working-class equivalent.

“It cost an arm and a leg”

It was very expensive.

“I'll have to mull it over”

Think about it carefully.

“It's all gone pear-shaped”

Things have gone wrong.

“It's brass monkeys out there”

Extremely cold. From a longer 19th-century phrase.

“Throwing a spanner in the works”

Causing an unexpected problem.

“She's full of beans this morning”

Energetic and lively.

“Don't get your knickers in a twist”

Don't get upset over trivial things.

“Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt”

Means 'and there you have it' — task done easily.