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Why "adult" sounds different in British English
The more common British pronunciation is /ˈædʌlt/, with the stress on the first syllable and the short "a" of "cat". The second syllable keeps a clear /ʌ/, the vowel of "cup", rather than collapsing into a schwa.
/əˈdʌlt/, stressed on the second syllable, is heard in Britain too and is listed by British dictionaries as an alternative, so it is not wrong. In American English, though, "uh-DULT" is the more frequent form, with a weak first syllable. If you want the version most British listeners expect, put the weight on the front: AD-ult. The same applies to "adulthood", which British speakers usually say as "AD-ult-hood".
How to say "adult" like a Brit, step by step
- Stress the first syllable: AD, with the short a of "cat".
- Say the second syllable as ult, with the vowel of "cup".
- Use a clear L and finish with a crisp t.
- Put it together: AD-ult, not uh-DULT.
Practise "adult" in a sentence
- Tickets are twelve pounds for adults and six for children.
- She spent most of her adult life in Manchester.
- Every child must be accompanied by an adult.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce adult in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, adult is pronounced /ˈædʌlt/, roughly "AD-ult". British speakers usually stress the first syllable: "AD-ult".
Is the American pronunciation of adult wrong?
No. /əˈdʌlt/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /ˈædʌlt/.