Learn Idris Elba's British English Accent (Cockney/RP/MLE)

[@drtslim]

Idris Elba’s accent work on The Wire was very impressive. Not only did he sound American; but he nailed the Baltimore accent spoken by African American people in Baltimore, MD. (Baltimorean here!) Also, a lot of Americans use the pronunciation of address associated with British English.

[@MrJC-mt6od]

You're doing great! And you can make a video about Tom Hiddleston's accent

[@NellieKAdaba]

I love Tom, he's my age.

[@arianehahn3043]

Who else would like to have a video where Tom himself analyses his accent and uses excerpts from his old videos to do so? I think it would be funny🤔😂

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Ha! I'm not sure I could handle having to listen to my own voice for hours and hours lols!

[@livb6945]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish but you must do, already, editing all this? 🤔 😉

[@JamesSinger]

About the word "address" (at least from my perspective speaking American English in the western US) we use both pronunciations. The one you highlighted in the interview (stressed on the first syllable) is the pronunciation we use with the noun. The second pronunciation that you spoke with is how we say it as a verb (with the stress on the second syllable).

[@dmmmwerd]

In the American Midwest we generally stress the last syllable of "address," not the first.

[@yardleyj9391]

I am Canadian and l agree

[@Molly-sh4ng]

Love Idris Elba. He has a melodic, soothing manner of speaking and of course the look of man is outstanding. Thank you.

[@Brigister]

I love how passionate and excited you are about accents! it makes for a much more enjoyable video, for sure. and it's nice to see I'm not the only one who geeks out about this, too.

[@annalishagoring]

Idris sounds pretty much the same as he does in Luther. Once you hear him speak you always know it's him. His voice is very distinctive

[@niobi9999]

He's such a great actor. It's always fun when you realize that an actor isn't from where you think they're from. We've been watching "Killing Eve" recently and I just assumed that Kim Bodnia was Russian, but then during an episode last night, he said the word "knows" during some dialogue and I thought to myself that it sounded Dutch or Danish...sure enough, he's a Danish actor. AA-dress (address) with the emphasis at the beginning isn't universally American. We say "uh-DRESS" for the most part. I think the "AA-dress" might be more southern American. (I've never lived in the south but I've heard people in the south say it that way)

[@burpie3258]

I love Killing Eve! And as a Canadian, I say uh-dress as well.

[@YvieT81]

The origins of ask and aks/axe was really interesting! I’ve heard it several times with African American people, but never with British people before, so I always thought it was a local American accent thing

[@NellieKAdaba]

I know, only few years ago I learned that about the origins or ask and aks. I've always associated with African Americans, Africans, and some Caribbeans, I prefer to say ask.

[@kara1599]

Idris is my favourite British actor. Thank you for making this video. I enjoyed a lot.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

☺️☺️☺️ you are very welcome

[@randorific333]

Interesting that I've been pronouncing "address" as the Brits do, when I'm American. I'm always amazed at how much you know about accents. I'd love to talk to you for a few minutes to see if you can pinpoint where in the U.S. I'm from. Most people can't figure it out, even when I lived in America! LOL. Thanks for another great informative/educational video!

[@joshuastauter107]

Video maker doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to American dialects. You speak like an American.

[@estersmejova]

I am so happy I discovered this channel. I like to learn English from native speakers more than in school from my teacher. I also like to learn more things than I need in school so this is awesome.

[@pardonmfrench]

Another language geek over here. I'm DO glad I've found this channel ❤

[@teachersusanute199]

Accents are fascinating.

[@abbysands9510]

There really are. The way one opens, moves their tongue, how wide their open their mouths to say the vowels or consonants creates what we cal an accent

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Right!!! They are so interesting!

[@Shirby857]

I just stumbled on this video and thought it was very interesting. I’m American, and thought you would like to know that we say address both ways depending on the context. “I wrote down my address” is said stressing the a at the beginning. “I wanted to address this problem” is said stressing the e in the middle.

[@tcconnection]

While he is saying writer with a t, he's still dropping his r's. So fascinating. Love his speaking diversity.

[@irenejohnston6802]

It's pronUNciation not pronOUNciation

[@FairyLizzie]

Tom, another name for you: Jodie Comer! She is brilliant with accents but I was so shocked when I heard her native accent. She's just a terrific actress!

[@amirrezaheydari1868]

You're probably the best accent teacher! Much love & respect 🙏🏻❤️

[@gabbiemac]

Probably the most fascinating video I've ever seen on KZbin.

[@tothepointenglishwithben.]

Very interesting. I learnt a lot from this video... and I was born in London! 😁 I definitely code switch a lot too.

[@Origen17]

I'm an American and we actually pronounce "address" both ways - I stress the second syllable.

[@jk_0988]

Best video ever! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 thank you! Bring it more times!

[@DomoniqueMusiclover]

For me it's this: "Give me your ADDress, so I can send you a gift by mail." "I'll try to adDRESS the situation with the kids about playing in the street."

[@DomoniqueMusiclover]

Thank you for the likes

[@yardleyj9391]

Correct. Emphasis depends on the nature of the word; whether the verb or the noun.

[@ellyminecraft614]

These videos are so interesting and fascinating... maybe you could analyse Tom Ellis’s accent next

[@marialopezalvarez7646]

wow, I have enjoyed this video!! I live in London since 10 years ago, my boyfriend (from London) and me (from Madrid) were talking about this last night and he used Idris Elba as an example of Cockney accent (he said this is his favourite accent in London) so here I am!! Thank youuuu

[@NS-neversaynever]

I'm shocked. So many accents in one person. So many detailed are noticed by you. It was informative.

[@gladysl77]

I love this kind of videos where you analyze celebrity's accents, they are very helpful and informative 😊. I'd like to see in the future a video about Tom Chaplin's accent (Keane frontman), he's from East Sussex.

[@papiramen5915]

The “ask” or “axe” thing isn’t code switching. It just depends on the person while some people are stuck saying one or the other. My family will switch between them telling a story out loud to each other. Never thought about it really until after I watched this video and heard it switch with us so many times. It’s like the glottal stop for you guys. Some will switch back and forth others can’t stop.

[@valentinaantonelli3096]

Thank you Tom, this is fascinating. I'd like to know more about Matty Healy's accent, both when he sings and when he gives interviews. Keep up the good work 👌👏

[@raysss7772]

I’ve been binge watching these videos for a while now,I love them, can you do Louis Tomlinson next?

[@Mjhank]

You're great Tom, many thanks for your great classes, bro!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

My pleasure Mario, I'm really happy you enjoy them : )

[@monicadiessler7685]

Tom, I ´ve enjoyed this video so much! Greetings from Argentina!

[@haoweishi1340]

Love this! Can you do a video on Tom Hiddleston’s accent?

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Excellent suggestion Haowei, thank you!

[@markdonovan1540]

This is an excellent analysis of pronunciation and accent variation.

[@eliasleq]

The more I watch your videos the more I get used to those different accents. Tks a million! 🇬🇧❤

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Perfect!That's exactly what I'm hoping will happen. The more you hear them, the more you get used to them and the better you understand them : )

[@Caryscookes]

I love Idris Elba! Fab video as always, you are very talented

[@iwona8894]

Thanks Tom for sharing your knowledge about different accents👍 It's really interesting. I love watching your videos. Great job😁

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

So nice of you Iwona, I'm really pleased you enjoy this kind of video. Plenty more to come.

[@iwona8894]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish Can't wait to see more👍😁

[@nushar5366]

Thanks a lot Tom for your lessons, I really appreciate it.

[@inah4923]

I love this segment of analysing different British accents

[@karlinisadia5967]

I love when your videos are about learn accent from an actor. Please more videos like this, thank you 💙

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Thank you Karlin! Will do!

[@abrahamkjlemba8999]

Nice video Mr Tom, I've been learning alot in my English Vocabulary through your videos.. Big up

[@hassanosman9719]

Amazing way to learn without realizing ur learning. Thanks

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hehehe let's call it 'secret learning'

[@Sevincnryva]

Thank you very much for giving us this valuable informations. You are successful in your work. )

[@mariafrederico9137]

Great video! It's amazing how much you know about this! Please, could you say something about your accent? It'd be so interesting!

[@mjb-voice]

I'm a dialect coach in the US and hate to tell you this but address is more frequently pronounced as [əˈdɹɛs] here.

[@mamymimma]

Thanks Tom, I really appreciated your lesson

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

My pleasure as always Mamy : )

[@mamymimma]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish I watched MTV video, as you suggested, and I got sad while reading such rude comments 😟

[@jesuscadena2747]

Brilliant. So, for the sake of the matter, I think he's just an incredible actor. If you were to reboot the 007 that would be the wisest choice for the Bond character. Personally, I find his accent quite pleasant to the ears.

[@mrwilliam_music]

High quality stuff! Such much detail and respect for the subject. I'd like to use this in my lessons, thanks!

[@VICTORSILVA-wz8ef]

best channel ever, congrats mate

[@gariktz]

Actually, it happens the same to me. I discovered in The Wire and freaked me out when I discovered he's Londoner. Great video btw. congrats mate.

[@paulossilva8612]

Hi there. I'm from Brazil. I must say I find your videos on accents a lot interesting

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

That's great that you like them Paulo...plenty more to come :)

[@sayranmuhammad695]

In the next time i mispronounced any word I'll say hey man it's my accent. THX for sharing those informations

[@philosophicsblog]

Mate, I'm an American language geek. I recall that John McWhorter said/wrote that a person's accent is part of his or her identity. In particular, parts of the US are known to have strong regional dialects (like Cockney in Britain), but a study he cited demonstrated that the strength of the accent features were proportionate to how closely the person self-identified to that place. In his example, I believe he used Boston, MA (or was is Cape Cod or Martha's Vinyard), but the essence was that the people in the otherwise same cohort, who were born and raised there and intended to remain there, had adopted all of the stereotypical accent features, whereas the people who expected to move on, were more accent neutral (if there is such a thing). (I'd have linked to the source, but I can't seem to find it.) #SadPanda

[@SreevatsaKota]

Your videos are absolutely marvellous; keep it up, Tom. Best wishes

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Awww that's super kind Sreevatsa, I'll keep going : )

[@cpulguz]

Great video, Tom!!! I loved it, as always!❤❤❤

[@englishbits]

Thanks, Tom! You are doing a great job!!

[@Ryan-so2us]

He should make one about Tom Ellis' accent

[@Sophie-cn2rw]

0:14 when he says "loft apartments" sounds so british to me

[@UltimateKick]

Your work is brilliant mate, keep it up. Can you do one about Jess Glynn's accent or Raza Jaffrey please?

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Cheers dude, I know Jess Glynn but not Raza Jaffrey. I'll check them out.

[@UltimateKick]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish Especially when it comes to his accent as an actor, in Rhythm Section or in Homeland

[@walterwhite5578]

It was great that you did this video. I have been meaning to put in a request for you to do Idris Elba. I agree in the channel four interview he is very formal and his pronunciation of the words are different. I saw the series Luthor and in that film or better, I should say series he uses RP or Estuary English one of the two. I don't know the difference to be honest. Can you do a video explaining the difference between Estuary English and RP? I have seen a lot of videos and their explanation of the video is people who live across the river Thames speak it but no-one explains how and why is different.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Yeah Estuary English isn't covered at all in English learning material. If I'm honest I don't know enough about it but I'll study up and make a video about it at some point. Thanks for the suggestion Walter

[@Veronica-yn2zu]

This was extremely fascinating! Thank you!

[@beatriced222]

Please make a video about Tom Ellis's accent!

[@elliotli4286]

This is a really great video! I learned a lot about the differences between the different english accents lol. Also, I think it'd be pretty interesting if you did a video on Gemma Chan's accent. Love from canada :)

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

That's so funny that you suggested her because I added her to my list the other day. She's awesome! Thanks for your great idea.

[@denisesousa5153]

Brilliant!.... Just loved this class. This guy's accent is what I would describe as "patchwork" !! No offense, please! Indeed, it is ! fascinating Exactly the way it is with Portuguese in Brazil. Tom, what a marvelous job!

[@eeleeuu]

Can you do a video talking about Louis Tomlinson accent? I think it would be really interesting. P.S: I LOVED your video about Harry Styles' accent, I have just discovered your channel and I am amazed by all your videos, you are really helpful.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Ah that's so kind, thank you Lucia. Yeah, a Louis Tomlinson special is on the way next week!

[@paulbismuth10]

Amazing video 👍

[@tabanmoses2561]

Make a video on grammatical words in MLE or Cockney and if 'there' can be pronounce as vare instead of "there"

[@Gerryp2]

He actually says "address" with a stress on the first syllable in the British show "Luther" as well (I noticed it a while ago), I don't think it was an American influence, but rather a specific feature of his own individual accent!

[@BloodyShedProductions]

Nice video, my school recommended it

[@Sevincnryva]

I really liked these videos. I think accent is very, very useful for learning. Thanks for that. But I will have a request. ) It would be great, very good for you to shoot the video "Learn Cole Sprouse Accent", at least for me. ) Helloooo From Azerbaijan ! 🌍🌏🌎✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿

[@bondiBONDIEnglish]

It's an amazing English teaching. The best steps in English learning are listening, reading (cap. Or sub.), speaking (try to imitate the natives speak) and writing. Am I right?

[@ilovemarls]

you should do jade thirlwal (I'm so sorry if i spelled that wrong) from little mix and louis tomlinson. i would love to hear your analysis on their accents. love your videos :)

[@marwazaghrari6782]

Please we want a video with Tom Ellis. Who agree with me ??

[@marwazaghrari6782]

And keep being the best 👍

[@ranyfarade2098]

Hey ! Really liked the video ! I was thinking if you could (prolly in your next video) be able to shed light on one of BBC's most celebrated TV series "BLACKADDER" and also enlighten us more on the impeccable British humour ! 😊😊😉

[@tcconnection]

Many decades ago people in the US would pronounce Caribbean like you did (also saw an old map spelling it with two r's and one b) and of recent years stress the second syllable.

[@nurasmyra]

can you do one with jade thirwall from little mix👉👈

[@booster2513]

This would be epic. I can’t understand her at all sometimes. I’m not so sure it’s where she is from as much as it’s how fast she talks and the slang she uses. I would love all the little mix girls but esp Jade.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Great suggestion Nur, I've had her requested a few times. I'll look into it and maybe do a video about Little Mix.

[@BrockMak]

11:50 Another explanation, in his own 'grammar', it's like an RP accent on 'a cup' then every other subsequent, using a more General Northern-style 'the cup'. I sometimes catch myself doing this, especially when I repeat myself many times, but not for emphasis.

[@khalidmohamed2569]

You do great lessons for us , cheers

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Awesome! Really pleased you enjoyed it Khalid : )

[@khalidmohamed2569]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish I used to watch your lessons while I was in Africa and now am in Canada. Your lessons helped me lots. Thanks once again teacher.

[@pattygalarce8019]

Thank you Tom very interesting lesson

[@jesushernandezyhernandez503]

Your videos are amazing! Could you please make one about Alex Turner's accent?

[@broman178]

Do Sean Bean's accent (one of the most recognisable accents from Yorkshire/Northern England) and Christian Bale's accent (since he code-switches a lot between English and American accents even in his interviews).

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Two great suggestions! Thanks : )

[@omarben5609]

I watched ''luther'', the accent was great. Your videos are amazingly awesome, I use your videos in class. , my students and I enjoy your instructive videos. Thanks a bunch!!!!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

That is awesome Omar! So pleased to hear it. Cheers for the support : )

[@rebeccasimantov5476]

Do you teach English?

[@omarben5609]

@@rebeccasimantov5476 yes, I do. As an EFL ( English as a Foreign Language). How about you?

[@rebeccasimantov5476]

@@omarben5609 Although I don't have formal teaching qualifications (studied psychology and linguistics), speech/language/accents interest me greatly.I am a native English speaker (originally from Australia) currently living in Israel. I've noticed, that despite English being taught in schools from grade four in primary school, many Israeli will stumble over their sentences when speaking...there is way too much emphasis on grammar with scant attention given to speaking and pronunciation...they can read and understand (not 100%) but many, many people cannot express themselves. So I want to offer conversation classes to adults as I believe there is a huge demand for this... I think Tom's videos are great...I find accents endlessly fascinating and I like the way he analyses them! Do you teach adults? Some other great YT channels you may find helpful: *Mmm English w/ Emma (Australian English) *English with Lucy (British English) *Speak English with Vanessa (US English)

[@omarben5609]

@@rebeccasimantov5476 well, I actually teach secondary level students at school; It happens that I teach adults, I would call this "an off school teaching". Psychology and linguistics are a good combination to make a perfect teacher. Well, here where I am from ,(Morocco) English is an EFL, so we are more likely to speak French. Arabic is our native language; so whenever I feel that my students got stuck in something or don't manage to take in what I have been trying to explain I use our native language or French. But the problem here is that many people come up with messy English sentences, the cause is that they think in Arabic and even the English sentence structure seems to be not really English; I try to invite students to read more & more English to be fully able to express themselves properly and to think in English. I am familiar with Lucy's channel, a great one indeed. My favourite ones are this one, I mean Tom's eat, sleep, dream in English and learn English with papa teach me.

[@klaraanim940]

At first I also thought that he's from USA. I saw him in This Christmas. Then there was this great movie Beasts of no nation. And when I watched Luther I was thinking he sounded a little bit strange to me. Then I found out that it was actually his accent and he didn't have to learn that for this role 🙈😄 Nice video 👍

[@ingamgoduka57]

I don't know its because I'm from South Africa but British accent is the best especial lectures.

[@rebeccasimantov5476]

Hi Tom. I thoroughly enjoy watching/listening to your accent analysis videos... How about Hugh Jackman and Emily's Clarke...? Greetings from Australia!

[@rebeccasimantov5476]

Correction: Emilia Clarke (Me Before You)

[@watchmakerful]

I've never heard "ask" as [a:ks] (with a long "a" as in "father"), only as [æks].

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Yeah that's just the London pronunciation of it.

[@jackaspley3283]

I've heard the [a:ks] pronunciation more than a few times from native Australians interestingly.

[@AudCasa]

Hi Tom! A video analysing Ed Westwick's accent would be great! As for Idris Elba, I honestly thought he was american and didn't realize he is from Hertfordshire... Thanks for your amazing videos! A.

[@annalishagoring]

Hackney

[@oznixork]

Interesting video! Thanks for sharing 😀 I'd love to hear your thoughts on Jade Thirlwall's geordie accent

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Thanks Pristine, I've had a few requests for her accent. Perhaps I should do all of Little Mix.

[@oznixork]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish Great! I'd love to see it 😉

[@isabella7131]

i love these videos because it really helps me notice the accent i have lol, like I cannot ever pronounce the with the received prnounciation so I'll either use the mle version or just say de

[@chrili4069]

Tom, did any of the famous people whose accents you analysed get in contact afterwards? I would find that so interesting! 😇

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Great question....not yet! I'd love to see what they think.

[@chrili4069]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish So would I!! 😎🌞

[@NathanielBTM]

you kinda hear his london accent slip out just a little when he says "you say the word" at 0:11 and the "something nice" and the "Loft Apartments" sounds like it slips out too

[@Gezquester]

Fanks! When I was a child I used to say Throg instead of Frog.

[@TheSpyridonos]

Been watching his series (Luther)on BBC. He has an amazing accent but TBH I can't understand him without the subtitle 😁

[@paulbismuth10]

For me no need of subtitles ( in Luther ) but i get it, i have the same problem with other actors sometimes.

[@rb7007]

Why, where are you from??? Lol

[@alicerossi_ap]

I thought homographic words had stress on the first syllable when they work as nouns and on the last syllable when they work as verbs. Is "address" perhaps one of the exceptions or am I simply wrong (which is highly likely)? Anyway, thanks Tom for your accurate analysis, always so illuminating 😃

[@mumekone]

please more cockney!!!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Who do you think I should do next?

[@mumekone]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish Maybe some grime artist

[@stefanocalesini3923]

This video is great!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Great! Glad you liked it Stefano : )

[@tcconnection]

The ax-ask is fascinatinLanguage! hear African-Americans saying extercise instead of exercise. I love language!

[@starshocker]

Interesting video as always. I'd pronounce the th sound like a d in words such as "the" or "that" or "this". Or like an f in a middle of a word like "something" An other interesting thing for me is that I'd naturally glottalize t sounds in words like certain or mountain or curtain.

[@tabanmoses2561]

I like the fronting. Can I pronounce'there'as vare or is it completely understandable

[@bibiyaz]

Can you do for Daniel Ricciardo?