general american: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
ModerateFormal, Technical (Linguistics, Media, Education)
Quick answer
What does “general american” mean?
A standard, neutral, or non-regional accent of American English, often used in broadcasting, education, and as a model for learners.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A standard, neutral, or non-regional accent of American English, often used in broadcasting, education, and as a model for learners.
A conceptual umbrella term for a collection of accents, predominantly from the Midwestern and Western United States, characterized by the absence of marked regional features (like the Northern Cities Vowel Shift or Southern drawl). It is a dialect in terms of grammar and vocabulary, and an accent in terms of pronunciation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is uniquely American in reference. In the UK, the comparable (though not equivalent) concept is "Received Pronunciation" (RP) or "BBC English." A British speaker might use the term to describe an American accent perceived as lacking strong regional markers.
Connotations
In the US: Neutral, standard, widely comprehensible. In the UK: Often synonymous with a typical "American accent" as heard in Hollywood films, sometimes perceived as informal or lacking the prestige associated with RP.
Frequency
The term is used with moderate frequency in academic and media circles in the US. In everyday UK conversation, it is less common, with phrases like "an American accent" or "a Midwestern accent" being more typical.
Grammar
How to Use “general american” in a Sentence
[speak/teach/model] + General AmericanGeneral American + [accent/pronunciation/dialect]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “general american” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She has been trained to generalise her accent towards a General American model.
- The actor worked hard to general-americanise his speech for the role.
American English
- He worked with a coach to General Americanize his pronunciation.
- Newscasters are often encouraged to speak in a General American style.
adverb
British English
- He spoke quite General Americanly, with very few regional quirks.
American English
- She pronounced it General Americanly, with a clear 'r' at the end.
adjective
British English
- His General American vowels made him sound like a newsreader.
- The course focused on General American phonology.
American English
- She has a very General American sound.
- The software uses a General American voice model.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when discussing corporate communication training or voiceovers for national advertisements to ensure broad appeal.
Academic
Central term in sociolinguistics, phonetics, and TESOL for describing accent variation and teaching models.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation. People are more likely to say "he doesn't have an accent" or "he has a neutral American accent."
Technical
The default reference accent for describing American English phonology in linguistic literature and dictionaries.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general american”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general american”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general american”
- Pronouncing it as a proper noun without capital letters ('general american').
- Assuming it is spoken by a majority of Americans (it's an abstraction).
- Using it to refer to grammar or vocabulary alone; it is primarily about pronunciation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is closely associated with accents from the Midwest (and West), but it is an idealized standard. Not every Midwesterner speaks "pure" General American, and features of General American can be found elsewhere.
No. Most Americans speak with some degree of regional influence. General American is an abstraction—a standard or neutral form that many accents approximate, but few match exactly.
The term implies it is widespread, common, or general across the country, as opposed to being specific to a particular city or region like a Boston or New York City accent.
For learners of English as a foreign language, it is an excellent and practical target model because it is widely understood across the English-speaking world and is the default for most teaching materials and dictionaries.
A standard, neutral, or non-regional accent of American English, often used in broadcasting, education, and as a model for learners.
General american is usually formal, technical (linguistics, media, education) in register.
General american: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒenrəl əˈmerɪkən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəl əˈmɛrəkən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"He speaks textbook General American." (meaning: a very neutral, standard accent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think "GA" like the US state of Georgia, but it's "General for All" of America - a widespread, general accent.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LINGUISTIC BASELINE or DEFAULT SETTING. A NEUTRAL CANVAS upon which regional accents add their colors.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key phonetic feature of General American?