How to say "accent" in Japanese

• アクセントJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for accent in the linguistic sense: the stress or pitch placed on a particular syllable or word. Use it when discussing pronunciation patterns, such as a word's pitch accent.
  Australiaという語ごのアクセントはどこですか。↗

  Where do you place the stress in the word "Australia"?
• なまりCommon
  nounAn accent in the sense of speech that sounds regional or foreign — the way a person's pronunciation reveals where they are from. It is usually written in kana alone.
  その男おとこはドイツ語どいつごなまりの英語えいごを話はなす。↗

  The man speaks English with a German accent.
• 抑揚よくようCommon
  nounPrimarily intonation or modulation — the rise and fall of the voice. It can translate accent, but it is seldom the word you want for accent itself; think of expressive inflection instead.
  彼かれの話し方はなしかたには抑揚よくようが欠かけている。↗

  Intonation is absent in his way of speaking.
• 弁べんCommon
  noun (suffix)A regional dialect or brogue — the speech of a particular area. Choose it when accent really means a regional way of speaking, not stress on syllables or a foreign accent.

Use 「アクセント」 for stress or pitch on syllables and words, 「なまり」 for a regional or foreign accent in someone's speech, 抑揚 for intonation or modulation, and 弁 for a regional dialect or brogue.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• アクセントaccent (on a syllable, word)
• なまりaccent (of one's speech)
• 抑揚よくようintonation
• 強音きょうおんaccent
• 訛音かおんaccent
• アクサンaccent (in French; acute, grave, and circumflex)
• 強勢きょうせいstress
• 弁べんdialect
• 声しょうstress (in pronunciation)
• 語調ごちょうintonation