The Transatlantic Accent: What Is It & How Do You Talk In It

Blog

30 March 2023

By Sarah Angela Almaden

The Philadelphia Story, Public Domain, Deems Taylor

Many, many movies ago we were all introduced to this distinctly glamorous accent known as the Transatlantic accent or the Mid-Atlantic accent. This accent was in vogue among a list of classic Hollywood superstars for years and years and it even became a fixture in many classic movies such as The Philadelphia Story, Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, All About Eve, It Happened One Night and Citizen Kane. But one day, this particular way of speaking just turned into dust… though, if we want to travel back in time and hear this Hollywood accent, all we have to do is watch a golden age Hollywood film.

What is the Transatlantic accent or a Mid-Atlantic accent

The Transatlantic or Mid-Atlantic accent is a very specific half-British and half-American accent. It doesn’t sound fully British. It also doesn’t sound fully American. One thing's for certain, this millionaire-sounding accent is a sham. The accent is totally fake and people, especially the upper echelon of society, consciously learned to speak with this accent while attending exclusive boarding schools.

Origins of the Transatlantic accent or a Mid-Atlantic accent

It's unclear where this Hollywood elite accent first appeared, although some believe it dates back to the early 1900s. Between the 1920s and 1940s, it became increasingly popular in oratory classes and theater programs. Hollywood studios openly supported and strongly encouraged their actors to learn and use the Transatlantic accent, allowing them to express an air of refinement and high social standing.

How to sound like a Hollywood Star with a Transatlantic accent

Drop the “r” at the end of the words
- a) Winner would sound like “win-nuh”
- b) Car would sound like “caah”
- c) After would sound like “af-tuh”
Stress the letter “t” as a sharp “t” sound
- a) Butter would sound like “bu-tuh”
- b) Twenty would sound like “twen-tee”
- c) Nutty would like “nut-tee”
Use long vowel sounds
- a) Party would sound like “pahhh-tee”
- b) Family would sound like “fahh-mih-leeh”
- c) Longer would sound like “lohhng-guh”