American English

"U.S. English" redirects here. For the political organisation, see U.S. English (organisation). For the English language throughout North America, see North American English. For other uses, see American English (disambiguation).

American English
Region	United States
Native speakers	24.2 crore, all varieties of English in the United States (2019)
Language family	Indo-European Germanic West Germanic North Sea Germanic Anglo–Frisian Anglic English North American English American English
Early forms	Old English Middle English Early Modern English
Dialects	Southern African-American Western New England Western Pennsylvania Minnesotan New York City Midland Philadelphia Northern American Indian Pennsylvania Dutch Cajun Chicano Miami New York Latino Californian
Writing system	Latin (English alphabet) Unified English Braille
Official status
Official language in	United States
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	None

American English, also referred to as United States English or U.S. English, encompasses the distinct forms of the English language spoken natively across the United States. It serves as the predominant language in the country and holds official status in 32 out of 50 U.S. states, as well as functioning as the de facto common language for governance, education, and commerce in all states, the District of Columbia, and most U.S. territories, with Puerto Rico being a notable exception. While no federal law formally designates English as the nation’s official language, Executive Order 14224 (USA) (2025) has affirmed this status. Over the past few decades, American English has emerged as the most influential variant of English globally.

Linguistically, American English is marked by unique patterns in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling that are widely shared across the U.S. but differ from other English variants worldwide. A neutral or standardised accent, often termed General American in linguistic studies, is perceived as lacking strong regional, ethnic, or cultural markers. This accent is frequently associated with media, education, and formal communication, though it represents a broad continuum rather than a single homogeneous style. Scholars note that historical and contemporary evidence does not support the existence of a single "mainstream" American accent, as regional variations persist. The sound system of American English continues to evolve, with some local accents fading over time while larger regional dialects solidify.

The language’s development reflects centuries of migration and cultural exchange, incorporating influences from European, African, Asian, and Indigenous communities. This has given rise to distinct linguistic forms such as African-American English, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Gullah. Additionally, creole languages like Louisiana Creole and pidgin languages developed through cross-cultural interactions. The U.S. is also home to American Sign Language (ASL), a distinct sign language used primarily by the deaf community, and Interlingua, an artificial language created in the U.S. for international communication. Notably, most speakers of languages other than English in the U.S. are bilingual or multilingual, with English serving as their primary means of communication.