# accent

/ˈækˌsɛnt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. regional pronunciation

noun · CEFR A2

the unique way that people from a specific country or area pronounce words.

For teachers: the distinctive manner of pronunciation characteristic of a particular locality, nation, or social class.

- Even though he lived in London for years, he still has a strong Scottish accent.
- The actor spent months working with a dialect coach to perfect a convincing West Texas accent for his upcoming role.

### 2. written mark

noun · CEFR B1

a small mark placed over a letter to show how to pronounce it.

For teachers: a diacritical mark used in writing to indicate stress, vowel quality, or to distinguish between homophones.

- In the word 'café', there is an accent over the letter 'e'.
- The student frequently forgot to include the appropriate accents when writing in French, which occasionally altered the meaning of the verbs.

### 3. emphasis

noun · CEFR B2

special importance or focus given to something.

For teachers: the relative prominence or emphasis given to a particular syllable, word, or element of a design.

- The accent of the new menu is on fresh, local seafood.
- In this interior design, the accent is on natural light and minimalist furniture to create a sense of open space.

### 4. musical stress

noun · CEFR B2

a stronger or louder note in a piece of music.

For teachers: a distinct emphasis placed on a particular note or beat, often indicated by a specific musical symbol.

- The drummer played a heavy accent on the first beat of every bar.
- The conductor requested a sharper accent on the staccato passages to highlight the rhythmic complexity of the movement.

### 5. to highlight

verb · CEFR B2

to make something more noticeable or to emphasize a sound.

For teachers: to give prominence to a feature or to pronounce a syllable with stress.

- You should use a highlighter to accent the most important parts of the text.
- The chef chose to accent the dish with a hint of lemon zest to balance the richness of the cream sauce.

## Examples

- She has a strong French accent when she speaks English.
- Even though he lived in London for twenty years, he never lost his thick Scottish accent.
- Sociolinguists often study how a speaker's accent can shift depending on their audience, a phenomenon known as style-shifting that helps the individual fit into different social environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.