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Why "path" sounds different in British English
RP says /pɑːθ/, with a long /ɑː/; American English /pæθ/. It is one of a small set of BATH words before TH, alongside "bath" and "lath", and the long vowel stays in compounds such as "footpath" and "pathway". Note that "math" is not one: British English says "maths" with a short a.
The plural is the interesting part. Many RP speakers say /pɑːðz/, with the voiced TH of "this" followed by a Z, much as "baths" and "mouths" voice their endings. /pɑːθs/ is also widely heard and fully acceptable. In Northern England, "path" has a short a, which is a strong regional marker.
How to say "path" like a Brit, step by step
- Release a firm p with a small puff of air.
- Open into a long, back ah.
- Put your tongue tip lightly between your teeth and blow for a voiceless th.
- For "paths", you can voice it: pahthz, with the TH of "this".
Practise "path" in a sentence
- Follow the path through the woods.
- The coastal path is closed after the storm.
- Our paths crossed again years later.
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 path in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, path is pronounced /pɑːθ/, roughly "PAHTH". Say pahth with a long "ah"; the plural is often pahthz with a voiced TH.
Is the American pronunciation of path wrong?
No. /pæθ/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /pɑːθ/.