How do you pronounce Voluntary in American vs British English?
In American English, voluntary is pronounced ˈvɑɫəntɛɹi. In British English, it is pronounced vˈɒləntəɹi. The difference: The “lot” vowel: American English uses an unrounded /ɑ/, British English a rounded /ɒ/.
voluntary
Tap to hear · American accent
Accent
If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.
Speed
Syllable by syllable — tap each one
Side by side
| Accent | IPA |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 American (US) | ˈvɑɫəntɛɹi |
| 🇬🇧 British (UK) | vˈɒləntəɹi |
Syllables
| Word | Syllable breakdown | Count |
|---|---|---|
| voluntary | vol · unt · ary | 3 |
Why the two accents differ here
The “lot” vowel: American English uses an unrounded /ɑ/, British English a rounded /ɒ/.
This is one of a handful of features that separate the two accents. Our American vs British pronunciation guide walks through all of them with examples.
Which one should you use?
Neither is more correct — they are different standard accents. Choose based on where you live, work, or are being examined, and then stay consistent. Mixing accents mid-sentence is what sounds unnatural, not the accent itself.