Soda vs. pop. PEE-can vs. pee-KAHN. The simple and unique word choices that we make each day all relate to our dialect , or the specific way we talk that differs from our regional neighbors. The question remains, though: what's your dialect based on the specific words and phrases you use in your day-to-day life?
There’s only one way to know. Hit “Start Quiz” to see if we can figure you out!
Disclaimer: This quiz is based on data collected from the Harvard Dialect Study organized by Professor Bert Vaux.
Questions Overview
- “I’d like a soda, please.”
- “I’d like some pop, please.”
- “I’d like a coke, please.”
- “I’d like a soft drink, please.”
- Cran
- Cray-ahn
- Cray-awn
- I say something else.
- PEE-can
- pee-CAN
- PEE-kahn
- pee-KAHN or pick-Ahn
- I pronounce all 3 words identically.
- I pronounce all 3 words differently.
- I pronounce Mary and merry the same, but marry differently.
- I pronounce Mary and marry the same, but merry differently.
- Car-ml
- Carra-mel
- I use both pronunciations.
- I use a different pronunciation than the ones listed above.
- Man-aze
- May-uh-naze
- I use both pronunciations.
- I use a different pronunciation.
- Pa-JAM-as
- Pa-JAH-mas
- I use both pronunciations.
- I use a different pronunciation.
- Water fountain
- Drinking fountain
- Bubbler
- I use a different word.
- Firefly
- Lightning bug
- I use both firefly and lightning bug.
- I use a different word.
- Crawfish
- Crayfish
- Crawdad
- I'm not sure.
- You all
- You guys
- You (on its own as a plural)
- Y'all
- Yard sale
- Garage sale
- Rummage sale
- Tag sale
- I use the word “hella” as a substitute for “very” or “really.”
- I use “like” a lot when I talk. Like, so much.
- I say “yee” instead of “yes.”
- I don't relate to any of these statements.
- I say “ard” instead of all right.
- I drop the Rs in my words—yard becomes yahd, for example.
- I use a “D” or “T” sound instead of a “th”—for instance, “mother” would become “mahder.”
- I don't identify with any of these statements.
- I say “yinz” rather than “you guys” or “you all.”
- I sometimes pronounce the “g” at the end of a word (like "Lawn Guyland" instead of “Long Island”).
- I use the word “spendy” instead of expensive.
- I don’t vibe with any of these statements.
More Quizzes
The northeastern part of the USA is the oldest part of the country, so it\u2019s no surprise that there are plenty of different sub-dialects and accents within this region. Here\u2019s just a few that you might be familiar with:
- Eastern New England accent:<\/b> Known for not always pronouncing the Rs at the end of words (e.g., father becomes fathuh, feather becomes feathuh, etc.).<\/li>
- Downeast Maine accent:<\/b> Also known for dropping Rs as well as Gs at the end of \u201cing\u201d words (e.g., falling becomes fallin\u2019); some treat it as a less polished version of a Boston accent.<\/li>
- Rhode Island accent:<\/b> Known for its Italian influences and its differentiation between \u201co\u201d and \u201caw\u201d sounds (e.g., like in cot vs. caught).<\/li>
- New Hampshire accent:<\/b> Also known for dropping their Rs and Gs, as well as for emphasizing and dragging out their As (e.g., father becomes fotha, can\u2019t becomes con\u2019t, etc.).<\/li><\/li><\/ul>
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":2,"text":"You have a Southern dialect.","meaning":"Based on your answers, we guess that you live somewhere in the southern United States. Historians cite the cut-off line for the southern US to be the Mason-Dixon line (an invisible boundary beneath Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Ohio that continues west). Some linguists, however, draw the line by the pronunciations of \u201cpen\u201d and \u201cpin\u201d\u2014regions that pronounce pin and pen as \u201cpin\u201d are from the south.
By this logic, the \u201cLinguistic South\u201d includes southern Virginia, southwestern West Virginia, the southern tip of Ohio, southwestern Indiana, southeastern Indiana, southern Missouri, southwestern Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, most of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Given the huge span of land this dialect covers, it\u2019s safe to say that there isn\u2019t a \u201csingular\u201d southern accent or dialect. The closer you look at each state and its communities, the more dialects you\u2019ll find. Still, a few cardinal traits of the southern dialect to look out for are:- Extended vowels:<\/b> Southerners often take vowels that were initially 1 syllable and stretch them into 2 syllables (e.g., bed becomes bay-ehd). <\/li>
- A dropped or replaced \u201cr\u201d:<\/b> Southerners often omit the \u201cr\u201d in a given word, or switch it out with a \u201cy\u201d sound (e.g., \u201cword\u201d becomes \u201cwuhd,\u201d \u201cpear\u201d becomes \u201cpeya\u201d).<\/li>
- \u201dT\u201d replaced with \u201cd\u201d or \u201cn\u201d:<\/b> In certain words, Southerners will replace the \u201ct\u201d sound in a word with a \u201cd\u201d or \u201cn\u201d (e.g., \u201cskittish\u201d becomes \u201cskidish\u201d or \u201cplenty\u201d becomes \u201cplenny\u201d).<\/li><\/li><\/ul>
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":3,"text":"You have a Midwestern dialect.","meaning":"Based on your answers, we\u2019re guessing that you hail somewhere from the Midwest, making you a speaker of good \u2018ol Midwestern American English. While the Midwest region of the US includes western New York, western West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and northern Oklahoma, linguists have broken this large region down into more specific dialects: Midland, Inland North, and North Central.
The Midland region includes Nebraska, Kansas, northern Oklahoma, northern Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and western West Virginia. Unlike other American accents, people from the Midland area don\u2019t drop their Rs (and occasionally even add them into words where they\u2019re not needed).
The Inland North region includes western New York, northeastern Ohio, Michigan, northwestern Indiana, northeastern Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin. People from this area tend to pronounce their vowels a little differently (e.g., \u201cah\u201d sometimes sounds like \u201ceh,\u201d \u201ceh\u201d sometimes sounds like \u201cuh,\u201d and so on).
The North-Central region includes Minnesota, most of Wisconsin, northern Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and a sliver of northeastern Nebraska. This accent has many unique characteristics, but one of the most prominent is the way that vowel sounds are adjusted (e.g., \u201cstate\u201d sounds more like \u201cstet,\u201d \u201cgoat\u201d sounds more like \u201cgut\u201d).
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Minnesotan"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Talk in a Minnesota Accent","id":4712655,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Minnesotan","relUrl":"\/Talk-Minnesotan","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Talk-Minnesotan-Step-15-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Minnesotan-Step-15-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Talk in a Minnesota Accent"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":4,"text":"You have a Western dialect.","meaning":"Based on your results, it sounds like you live (or have lived) in the western US. This includes Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Washington State, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Unlike other regional dialects, Western American English doesn\u2019t sound all that different from a standard American accent (better known as a \u201cGeneral American\u201d accent). Still, it\u2019s impossible to put nearly half of America into just one linguistic box\u2014the closer you look, the more you\u2019ll find more specific accents and dialects, like:- Pacific Northwest:<\/b> Known for sounding very similar to the General American accent, and for having specific slang like \u201cduff\u201d (old leaves and such on the ground in a forest) and \u201cspendy\u201d (expensive).<\/li>
- California:<\/b> Known for its distinctive vowel pronunciations (e.g., \u201cuh\u201d sounding like \u201ceh,\u201d \u201cah\u201d sounding like \u201coh,\u201d etc.).<\/li>
- Hawaiian Pidgin\/Hawaiian Creole English:<\/b> A dialect descended from the state\u2019s historical pidgin language system (a simple language designed to bridge the gap between two groups that don\u2019t understand one another).<\/li><\/li><\/ul>
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":5,"text":"You have a Californian dialect.","meaning":"Based on your answers, it sounds like you are from (or used to live in) California. Modern movies and television shows have definitely created something of a stereotype for this dialect, but the true Californian accent boils down to one major detail: how the vowels are pronounced.
Californians unconsciously use a vowel shift when they speak. The vowel \u201cah\u201d is replaced by \u201ceh\u201d; the vowel \u201ceh\u201d is replaced by \u201cih\u201d; and the original \u201cah\u201d shifts to become \u201caw\u201d (as in cot\/caught). Californian English is also well-known for its unique slang, which includes words like:- Hella:<\/b> A substitution for \u201cvery\u201d or \u201creally\u201d<\/li>
- Yeah no<\/a>:<\/b> A response that means \u201cI\u2019m definitely not interested\u201d<\/li>
- No yeah:<\/b> A response that means \u201cYes\u201d<\/li><\/li><\/ul>
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":6,"text":"You have a Pacific Northwest dialect.","meaning":"Based on your results, it sounds like you\u2019re from the Pacific Northwest (Washington State, Oregon, or Idaho). As far as dialects go, the PNW accent is pretty hard to distinguish from the General American accent\u2014but there are a few differences, if you know where to look.
Like other dialects, PNW English is most easily defined by its vowel pronunciation. People from PNW pronounce the \u201co\u201d in \u201ccot\u201d and the \u201cau\u201d in \u201ccaught\u201d identically. They\u2019re also for pronouncing the letter \u201ce\u201d (like in \u201cegg\u201d) as more of an \u201cay\u201d sound. As a PNW native, you\u2019re probably also familiar with slang like:- Spendy:<\/b> Expensive<\/li>
- The coast:<\/b> The beach<\/li>
- Sunbreak:<\/b> A burst of sunlight in the middle of rainy and overcast weather<\/li><\/li><\/ul>
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":7,"text":"You have a New Orleans dialect.","meaning":"Based on your answers, you seem to hail from the NOLA. With its unique, multicultural history, it\u2019s no surprise that New Orleans is home to multiple dialects, with \u201cYat\u201d and \u201cCajun\u201d English being some of the most well-known.
\u201cYat\u201d is short for the condensed greeting \u201cWhere y\u2019at,\u201d which really embodies the fast-paced, New York-style energy of the dialect. Yat is often defined by its lack of Rs and its substitution of Ds for Ts; this makes sense, given that NYC and New Orleans were home to similar cultural groups of immigrants back in the day.
Cajun English is also deeply influenced by historical immigration, and is well-known for its substitution of \u201cth\u201d with \u201cD\u201d or \u201cT,\u201d and its substitution of Ks, Ps, and Ts with Gs, Bs, and Ds. This dialect can be easily traced back to its French roots, as Cajun English speakers often use French-inspired slang words like cher (dear\/sweetheart), \u00e7a c'est bon (that\u2019s good), and allons (let\u2019s go).
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":8,"text":"You have a Boston dialect.","meaning":"Based on your results, it sounds like you\u2019re a current (or former) resident of Boston. While this dialect doesn\u2019t always get the best representation in movies and TV shows, one thing\u2019s for sure\u2014there\u2019s no mistaking a real Boston accent.
Above all, Bostonians are known for leaving the Rs out of their words. So, \u201ccar\u201d becomes \u201ccah,\u201d cord becomes \u201ccohd,\u201d and so on. Some words get a little more intentional treatment; for instance, \u201cdoor\u201d would be pronounced like \u201cdoh-wuh.\u201d
As for Boston slang, well\u2014there\u2019s a lot of it, for just about anything and everything. A few examples: \u201cblinker\u201d for a car\u2019s turn signal, \u201celastics\u201d for rubber bands, or \u201cPats\u201d for Boston\u2019s beloved football team, the New England Patriots.
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Speak-With-a-Bostonian-Accent"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak With a Bostonian Accent","id":81464,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Speak-With-a-Bostonian-Accent","relUrl":"\/Speak-With-a-Bostonian-Accent","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Speak-With-a-Bostonian-Accent-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Speak-With-a-Bostonian-Accent-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Speak With a Bostonian Accent"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":9,"text":"You have a Philadelphia dialect.","meaning":"Based on your results, it sounds like you\u2019re from the city of brotherly love: Philadelphia! Beyond the cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, and rabid sports fans, the Philadelphian dialect is another cultural mainstay in one of America\u2019s oldest cities.
While the Philadelphian accent has plenty of traits in common with its northeastern neighbors, a few specific pronunciations really make this accent stand apart\u2014like saying \u201cwooder\u201d instead of \u201cwater,\u201d \u201ceat\u201d instead of \u201ceight,\u201d and \u201carnj\u201d instead of \u201corange.\u201d Basically, Philadelphians aren\u2019t afraid to drop some vowels and consonants when the opportunity calls for it.
You\u2019re probably well-acquainted with some of Philly\u2019s most beloved slang, too: \u201cjawn\u201d for just about any word you can think of, \u201card\u201d for \u201call right,\u201d and \u201choagie\u201d for a sub sandwich.
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":10,"text":"You have a Pittsburgh dialect.","meaning":"Based on your results, it sounds like you hail from the city of Pittsburgh. Known for some pretty iconic slang and unique vowel pronunciations, it\u2019s easy to see how the Pittsburgh dialect has become such a recognizable one.
Like most dialects out there, Pittsburgh gets its one-of-a-kind sound from the people who originally settled in that area, like Irish and Scottish immigrants. Because so many non-native English speakers originally worked and settled in Pittsburgh, a variety of unconventional English pronunciations emerged and grew into their own dialect.
Exhibit A: words like \u201cdowntown,\u201d which is famously pronounced as \u201cdahntahn\u201d among Pittsburghians. \u201cYinz\u201d is another well-known slang term from Pittsburgh, which is short for \u201cyou ones\u201d (basically, \u201cyou guys\u201d and \u201cy\u2019all\u201d). Historically, the word \u201cyinzer\u201d was actually used as a label for Pittsburgh citizens.
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker","id":96491,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","relUrl":"\/Learn-Perfect-English-As-a-Native-English-Speaker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Write-a-Journal-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Learn Perfect English As a Native English Speaker"},{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":11,"text":"You have a NYC dialect.","meaning":"Based on your answers, it sounds like you hail from New York City. As the biggest city in America, it\u2019s safe to say that NYC is home to many different dialects and accents. Still, there are a few common traits that are associated with a standard New York accent.
For starters, New Yorkers are known to drop their Rs in words like \u201cfather\u201d or \u201cbrother,\u201d saying them as \u201cfathuh\u201d or \u201cbruthuh\u201d instead. People with a New York accent also tend to pronounce the \u201cg\u201d in certain words (e.g., Long Island).
Of course, the New York accent isn\u2019t limited to just NYC. Plenty of New Jersey citizens use the New York dialect, just as people from Long Island do. But there\u2019s no denying that this accent is most associated with its namesake: the city that never sleeps.
Keep in mind that not everyone\u2019s personal vocabulary and pronunciations neatly fit under the umbrella of a specific dialect. You might find your dialect lining up with a region that you don\u2019t even live in\u2014perhaps you lived near that area as a child, or maybe you\u2019re just a dialectical mystery! Whether you agree or disagree with these results, what matters most is that you have your own unique way of thinking and communicating, and that\u2019s something worth celebrating.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Recognize-a-New-York-Accent"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)","id":206320,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","relUrl":"\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Talk-Like-a-Stereotypical-New-Yorker-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)"},{"title":"How to Recognize a New York Accent","id":8562070,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Recognize-a-New-York-Accent","relUrl":"\/Recognize-a-New-York-Accent","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e3\/Recognize-a-New-York-Accent-Step-11.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Recognize-a-New-York-Accent-Step-11.jpg","alt":"How to Recognize a New York Accent"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""}]" class="quiz_results_data"/><\/picture>","alt":"What Type of Person Am I Quiz"},{"title":"What Is My Weakness Quiz","id":14058419,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/What-Is-My-Weakness-Quiz","relUrl":"\/What-Is-My-Weakness-Quiz","image":"
<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My Weakness Quiz"},{"title":"What Is My True Color Personality Quiz","id":14149153,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/True-Colors-Personality-Test","relUrl":"\/True-Colors-Personality-Test","image":"
<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My True Color Personality Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"Nah, I think I've had enough self-discovery for one day.","result":"Totally understandable. Maybe these quizzes would be more up your alley:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"Am I Smarter than a 5th Grader Quiz","id":14174658,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Are-You-Smarter-than-a-5th-Grader-Quiz","relUrl":"\/Are-You-Smarter-than-a-5th-Grader-Quiz","image":"
<\/picture>","alt":"Am I Smarter than a 5th Grader Quiz"},{"title":"General Knowledge Quiz","id":14201541,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/General-Knowledge-Quiz","relUrl":"\/General-Knowledge-Quiz","image":"
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All About Dialects
What are dialects?
Dialects are different versions of a single language that aren’t easily understood by other speakers. Think of dialects as branches growing from a singular tree—while they stem from the same main source, they’re unique and distinct from one another.
Does the USA have dialects? Absolutely! The USA and many other countries have dialects that are spoken among their citizens. Depending on who you ask, there are over a dozen different dialects in the USA alone, typically organized by state/region, including:
- General American
- New York City English
- North Central English
- Standard Midwestern
- Western American English
Common Dialectical Differences In the USA, a lot of dialectical differences come down to the specific words and phrases a person naturally chooses within a situation. Some especially well-known word choice differences include:
- Soda vs. Pop vs. Coke
- “Soda” is the term of choice in the Northeastern US, while “pop” reigns supreme in the Midwest. Meanwhile, people in the South often use “Coke” to refer to any type of sweetened carbonated drink.
- Aunt: “ah” as in “envelope” or “ae” as in “ant”
- “Ae” as in “ant” is the most popular pronunciation choice among most Americans, while some from the Northeastern US pronounce the “a” in “aunt” as “ah.”
- Pecan: pee-KAHN vs. PEE-can vs. PEE-Kahn vs. pee-KAHN vs. pick-Ahn
- The way Americans say pecan depends on two key factors: which syllable is stressed, and how each part of the word is pronounced. Both PEE-can and pee-CAN are popular pronunciations in New England, though PEE-can seems to be popular in the South as well. PEE-Kahn is especially popular in the Midwest, while pee-KAHN is used in the Eastern half of the US, as well as the West Coast. The pick-AHN pronunciation in multiple parts of the US, including the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.
- Pajamas: Pa-jam-as vs. Pa-jah-mas
- Both pronunciations are used in the Northeastern and Western regions of the US, but “pa-jam-as” seems to be the preferred pronunciation in the Midwest while “pa-jah-mas” is the preferred pronunciation in the South.