There is a nice and entertaining video about some pronunciation differences between British and American English. But if you have listened to native speakers from both areas, then you will have noticed the differences for sure already.

It is specifically good to hear when they use the letters:

-a-    -t-    -r-    -h-

In the video Theresa May (former British Prime Minister) and Donald Trump (former President of the United States) are  compared as they pronounce certain typical words.

But the differences are not only about the pronunciation of certain letters or words, it is the whole melody of a sentence that differs. Americans much more tend to link words and make them sound like one word.

[have] got to | got a  →  gotta

The different pronunciation and voice projection of American English comes from a different open mouth position.  While British pronunciation is mainly created in the oral cavity (mouth cavity) with lips tongue and teeth, the Americans speak with a broader opening of the mouth and more using the whole mouth cavity.

For  non-nativ speakers: British English is more spoken towards the teeth. Try to keep the sound creation more in the teeth and lips area. For American English open your mouth wider when speaking .

The different way of creating the sound (words) in American English leads to the fact that certain letters are more briefly pronounced. If you open your mouth wide for an “a” then it would be a long way for your muscles to form a “t” after it. So the “t” became a softer “d”, which allows the speaker to keep the mouth more open.

reality → sounds like:realuhdy | realdy

And it also leads to the Americans bind words together, making them sound like one.

what do you do → sounds like: whaduhyuh do

This “uh” sound is very prominent in American pronounciation. It can change an “i” like in the word reality, or the “to” like in got to know.