Pick a language to speakRight Arrow
Ready to learn?
Pick a language to get started!

The United States Of Accents: A Guide To The American Ways Of Speaking

There are a lot of American Accents out there, and we’re trying to explore all of them in our series, ‘The United States Of Accents.’
The United States Of Accents: A Guide To The American Ways Of Speaking

What does it mean to have an American accent? The United States is a very large country, and there are a lot of people in it. Should an American sound like a midwestern newscaster? Or maybe have a strong southern twang? Or perhaps the American accent is located in the r-less cities of Boston and New York. As you can probably guess from these questions, to find out what people from the United States sound like, you have to explore multiple American accents.

The task of dividing the country into discrete accent boxes is still pretty difficult. The lines between regions are blurry, the way people talk is constantly changing and a relatively small area can have people speak any number of different ways. Geography isn’t even the only marker of an accent; people can speak a certain way because of their profession or their upbringing.

This hub, then, presents a growing but incomplete list of some of the most distinctive American accents around today. We explore what these accents sound like, where they come from and what they can mean for both individual and cultural identity.

American Accents (Geographic)

American Accents (Other)

Want to work on your accent in a new language?
Thomas Moore Devlin
Thomas grew up in suburban Massachusetts, and moved to New York City for college. He studied English literature and linguistics at New York University, but spent most of his time in college working for the student paper. Because of this, he has really hard opinions about AP Style. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and getting angry about things on Twitter. He's spent a lot of time trying to learn Spanish, and has learned a little German.
Thomas grew up in suburban Massachusetts, and moved to New York City for college. He studied English literature and linguistics at New York University, but spent most of his time in college working for the student paper. Because of this, he has really hard opinions about AP Style. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and getting angry about things on Twitter. He's spent a lot of time trying to learn Spanish, and has learned a little German.

Recommended Articles

What Is The Sexiest Accent In The World?

What Is The Sexiest Accent In The World?

Its popularity may not surprise you, but the reasons for it might.
How To Improve Your Accent In Another Language

How To Improve Your Accent In Another Language

Haven’t nailed down your German/Spanish/Klingon accent yet? Here are a few tips to help you improve!
What’s The Difference Between A Language, A Dialect And An Accent?

What’s The Difference Between A Language, A Dialect And An Accent?

Confused by what people mean when they talk about languages, dialects and accents? You’re not alone.