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Why "news" sounds different in British English
British English says /njuːz/, with a /j/ glide after the N: "nyooz". General American says /nuːz/, "nooz". The difference is the same as in "new", and it carries into "newspaper", "newsagent" and "newsreader".
The other point learners miss is the ending. Although it is spelled with an S, "news" ends in a voiced /z/ in both accents, so your voice should keep buzzing to the end. A hissing S makes it sound like "noose". The word is also grammatically singular in English: "the news is good", never "the news are". Compare new, which works the same way.
How to say "news" like a Brit, step by step
- Begin with n and add a quick y glide: nyoo.
- Keep the oo long and rounded.
- End with a voiced z: put your hand on your throat and feel it buzz.
- Say it as one stressed syllable: NYOOZ. Then try "NYOOZ-pay-puh" (newspaper).
Practise "news" in a sentence
- Did you watch the news last night?
- That's brilliant news, congratulations!
- I picked up a paper at the newsagent's.
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 news in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, news is pronounced /njuːz/, roughly "NYOOZ". Add a "y" after the N and end on a buzzing Z: NYOOZ.
Is the American pronunciation of news wrong?
No. /nuːz/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /njuːz/.