How to Pronounce “either”: British vs American vs Australian
Dialect Analysis & Sound Shift
US commonly uses ⁄ˈiː.ðɚ⁄ (EE-ther); UK and Australia frequently use ⁄ˈaɪ.ðə⁄ (EYE-ther).
Linguistic Feature: Vowel ContrastsAmerican English (US)
⁄ˈiː.ðɚ⁄
Predominantly ⁄iː⁄, though ⁄aɪ⁄ is used for emphasis
British English (UK)
⁄ˈaɪ.ðə⁄
Predominantly ⁄aɪ⁄ in modern RP
Australian English (AUS)
⁄ˈaɪ.ðə⁄
Predominantly ⁄aɪ⁄ in General Australian
Watch Native Speakers by Accent
105 native video clipsAccent Battle: Which pronunciation do you prefer for "either"?
Vote to see live community preferences • 105 votes
Dialect Analysis & Sound Shift: “either”
Both forms have existed in English dialects since Middle English. The ⁄aɪ⁄ form gained ascendancy in 19th-century London, while ⁄iː⁄ remained the primary General American norm.
Frequently Asked Questions: "Either" Accent Differences
How do Americans and Britons pronounce "either" differently?
Both forms have existed in English dialects since Middle English. The ⁄aɪ⁄ form gained ascendancy in 19th-century London, while ⁄iː⁄ remained the primary General American norm.
Which English accent is considered the standard for "either"?
Neither is universally superior. General American (GA) is the predominant broadcast standard in North America, while Received Pronunciation (RP) / BBC English is standard across the UK and widely taught across Europe.
How does Australian pronunciation of "either" compare to British and American?
Predominantly ⁄aɪ⁄ in General Australian
How can I practice switching between US and UK pronunciations for "either"?
Watch native video clips back-to-back using SayItVid's comparison player. Pay close attention to mouth positioning, vowel length, and whether the final or post-vocalic /r/ sound is pronounced.