How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (with Examples)

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Learn the NYC accent to sound like a true city native
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The City of New York is quite a distinctive one, and so is the way its residents speak. The way New Yorkers talk is different from how other Americans sound, both in accent and the phrases they use. Whether you’re taking on an acting role or are just hoping to impress your friends, you can easily learn how to talk like a stereotypical New Yorker—and we’re here to help! We talked with voice and speech coach Patrick Muñoz to teach you everything there is to know about a New York accent. Plus, we threw in plenty of pronunciation examples and a list of words New Yorkers say differently.

How do you do a New York accent?

  • Elongate vowels with an “aw” sound. Talk → "Tawk"
  • Drop the “r” from words. Park → "Pak."
  • Shorten the “th” sound with “d” or “t.” That → "tat" or "dat"
Section 1 of 3:

Learning the Crucial Accent and Sounds

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  1. Only pronounce your r sounds if they are before a vowel. The dropped r is a classic New York sound , though it is actually going out of style. The tricky part is remembering when to subtly drop the r . It only disappears when it is before a consonant, though the disappearance is slight—listening to native speakers can help you find the sweet spot. For example: [1]
    • Park → "Pak."
    • Nurse → "Nuhse."
    • Water → "Watta"
    • River → "Rivva"
    • Fear → "Feah" [2]
    • Tip: Note that some New Yorkers also add r s where they aren't needed, like "idea- r " or "law- r and order." These are generally colloquial and common in older speakers.
  2. This sound is found in the clichéd New York accent expression "toity-toid street" ("33rd Street"), but it is not always so cliché. As Muñoz explains, dropping the softer, whispery thhhh sound for a harder ddd or tttt sound is very New York.
    • The → "teh"
    • That → "tat" or "dat"
    • Three → "tree" [3]
    • Tip: When making d or t sounds, place your tongue against the back of your bottom teeth. [4]
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  3. Many of the words that have the o sound (like in coffee) are pronounced with an aw sound. So the word dog, for example, would sound like "d aw g", and "coffee" would sound like "c aw fee," explains Muñoz.
    • Talk → "Tawk"
    • Thought → "Tawwt"
    • Tip: The short o sound is pretty rare in New York English. Words which include the long i in the middle, like "liar," use a very similar aw sound, so "liar" should sound almost like "lawyer."
  4. This is a tricky one because it requires turning one syllable into two. Some linguists believe it is nearly impossible for outsiders to learn, but you can pick it up with a bit of practice! Check out the following examples and see if they make sense. Try saying the first syllable quickly and sliding it naturally into the next:
    • Cab → "ca-AHB"
    • Avenue → "ahav-enue." [5]
  5. Most New Yorkers get their words out quickly, speaking with a pace just a bit faster than the average American. Look at the phonetically spelled out examples below and test out a few words to get used to the accent. The capitalized letters are for emphasis.
    • Sunday → "sun-dA"
    • Monday → "Mun-dey"
    • Tuesday → "Twos-dey"
    • Wednesday → "Wehn-s-dey"
    • Thursday → "Thuhs-dey" (err being kind of rolled r)
    • Friday → "Fry-dey"
    • Saturday → "Satuh-dey" [6]
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Section 2 of 3:

Nailing the Tone, Rhythm, & Vibe

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  1. Bernie Sanders, Fran Drescher, and Jerry Seinfeld have all made the New York accent recognizable, even if it is considered a bit over the top for everyday speech. But if you're on stage, on screen, or just hamming it up, focus on breathing through your nose and restricting your throat when you speak.
    • Huge → "Yuuuuge." [7]
  2. Speaking like a New Yorker is less about what you say and more about how you say it. New Yorkers are known for being direct, opinionated, and confident. They are also known for talking a lot and talking loudly.
    • Speak quickly and succinctly.
    • Use loud , expressive tones when speaking.
    • Really draw out those vowels for emphasis.
    • Throw an extra r at the end of words that end in vowels, like "That's a good idea r. "
  3. This variation of the New York accent is most defined by its extended vowels and constricted words. To do a Long Island (or as the locals say, "Lawn-Guyland") accent, take your time with the vowels, stretching them out as you say them. Also, drop off the end of words to say them faster. [8]
    • Going → "Goiin"
    • Here → "Heea"
  4. While cliché, using informal words and phrases made famous by New Yorkers may help you get more comfortable with your accent. They can help you gain a NYC mindset. Here are some examples: [9]
    • Pronounce "New Yorkers" as "Noo Yawkez."
    • Say "hey," instead of "hi" or "hello," and say it quickly.
    • Use phrases like "Get outta hea," "Fawget aboutit," and "Ahrite ahready."
    • Make the classic "you guys" into the NYC plural "yous guys."
    • Tip: Know that these phrases and way of speech could be considered offensive due to the stereotypes surrounding them.
  5. Not every New Yorker sounds the same, which can make it easy for you to diversify your accent. Muñoz explains that there are different “variations.” Because of this, communicating and listening to multiple native New Yorkers can help you make your NYC accent more unique and authentic.
    • For example, people from Staten Island and Brooklyn often come from Italian descent, so their accent has a mix of Italian sounds.
    • Those with a Long Island accent emphasize the g sound, making it harder and more pronounced.
    • An upstate New York accent uses the r sound and has a strong Midwest vowel shift.
    • Check out the multiple dialects of the NYC accent and how they sound via the DialectArchive.com .
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Section 3 of 3:

Words New Yorkers Say Differently

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  1. There’s no denying that New Yorkers have their own way of speech, but did you know they have their own unique vocabulary as well? The words you know may have a different meaning (and pronunciation) compared to a New Yorker’s. Check out these terms and phrases New Yorkers use differently: [10]
    • "Draw" = Drawer
    • "Hero" = A long sandwich
    • "Munts" = Months
    • "Mutz" = Mozzarella
    • "Pie" = Pizza
    • "Pak" = Park
    • "Sear-up" = Stir-up
    • "Grosery" = Grocery
    • "Yous" = You guys

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  • Question
    Is a Brooklyn accent different from a Manhattan accent?
    Community Answer
    Quite different. Brooklyn is the typical "New York" accent that you hear on TV shows and movies. Manhattanites don't have a distinctive accent, but they do talk faster than most Americans.
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  • Question
    Is "oiy vay " a New Yorker term?
    Community Answer
    It's a Yiddish term, which is often associated with NYC because of the city's high Jewish population.
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  • Question
    Do New Yorkers always end a question with "right"?
    Community Answer
    Not always. Each individual has his/her own way of ending a question. Some end with "huh"; some even end with a mere "hmm."
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      Tips

      • New Yorkers say "like" a lot and use shortcuts for words instead of pronouncing the whole word or phrase.
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      • Watch TV shows set in New York, like Seinfeld . Each character has different tones and can help you decide which you want to pursue.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • I'm from Long Island (just over the city line), and I've always said "close" for "clothes," dropping the "th." Also, "forward" is pronounced as "fowad." I used to say "ding" for "thing," but moved to another part of the country, which softened my accent a bit.
      • Using your hands while you talk won't improve your accent, but it will add to the overall impression of being a New Yorker—just don't overdo it. Robert DeNiro is the best natural at this.
      • Words that end in “all” should be pronounced as “awl” (i.e., fall, call).
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about imitating accents, check out our in-depth interview with Patrick Muñoz .

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg277i_how-to-do-a-new-york-accent_creation
      2. ↑ https://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A30501703
      3. ↑ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg277i_how-to-do-a-new-york-accent_creation
      4. ↑ https://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A30501703
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwny52Ncatk
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZveExbsKp5U
      7. ↑ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg277i_how-to-do-a-new-york-accent_creation
      8. ↑ https://h2g2.com/approved_entry/A30501703
      9. ↑ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/12916/yall-youse-8-english-ways-make-you-plural
      1. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/things-new-yorkers-say-2018-1#people-from-new-york-are-likely-to-say-the-words-merry-marry-and-mary-differently-1

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to get the stereotypical New Yorker accent, start by dropping the "r" sound from words that have an R after a vowel. Then, replace the "th" sound at the beginning of words with a "d" or "t" sound, and elongate your vowels, especially A's and O's. When you speak, talk quickly and succinctly, and use loud, expressive tones. If you want to really commit to the accent, throw in some New York slang, like "Ahrite ahready" and "yous guys." For tips on practicing your New York accent, scroll down!

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