A variant of a language used by people in a particular area or social group, differing in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary.
Examples:
The play features a mix of dialects from different regions.Her strong dialect made her speech hard to understand.Linguists study dialects to preserve languages.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonyms
Accent
/ˈæksənt/
A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, often associated with a specific origin or social class
Examples:
She spoke slowly-she had the accent of South Carolina.You've got to get rid of that Boston accent."He speaks English fluently with no accent.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonyms
Ways to tell them apart:
An accent is about pronunciation, while a dialect encompasses a broader variation that includes vocabulary and grammar.
Dialect refers to a specific form of a language used in a particular region or by a specific group of people.
Accent is often about the sound of the voice, while dialect can affect meaning and structure of sentences.
You can have an accent without using a different dialect, and vice versa.
Dialects can include an accent, but also involve different words and expressions.