As an American, I can attest to the fact that many of us go wild for accents from other countries. We think they’re adorable, sexy, cute, or some combination of all three.
What, though, do other countries think of American accents? Do we have accents?
Keep reading to find out!
17. Round and squishy. Just like Americans!
I really enjoy American accent.
Hearing it all the time it’s “normal”, but every once in a while when I hear it in person it just sounds nice to me.
Like round and squishy.
I am from Croatia for those wondering. I love the fact how native speakers liked my description.
16. This is straight-up hilarious.
When I (‘Mercan) was hanging out in Blackpool England, a cabbie heard me talk and yelled “foook me, ya sound jus like Brat Pitt!!”
Until then, I figured my Midwestern accent sounded bland and ordinary.
15. I like this explanation.
The American accents are varied, from educated articulate person, to tin can chewing badger tripping on LSD.
14. That’s…sweet.
I traveled a bit in West Africa and most people thought my Ohio accent sounded really nasally.
I had a kid walk up to me and mock my accent by plugging her nose and speaking gibberish.
13. How dare you lump Boston and NY together?!
I’m British I like some of them but really dislike some others. The Hollywood accent I’m kind of used to as we get a lot of American TV shows and movies. I really love southern accents, I think they sound awesome.
The ones I really don’t like are New York and Boston accents. They sound overly aggressive and very jarring.
12. Can’t hide it.
It sounds natural to me since Scotland has american tv shows along with the rest of the uk.
If I ever hear an american accent in real life though it sticks out like a sore thumb
11. This is kind of adorable.
All British kids have an American accent for playing at star wars or war.
It really is part of all our childhoods
10. It’s that simple.
An American Accent is like a wild animal: if you see it in an exhibit, you feel safe, but if you encounter it in the wild, you feel very uncomfortable
9. I mean…
I’m salvadorian but speak in an american accent.
But I gotta say, before i spoke english, I thought an american accent was just adding the words “o my gosh” to everything you say.
8. That’s us alright.
It’s not even the accent. Just the sheer loudness. I’M AMERICAN AND IM HEEERE!!!!
7. Those were some bold strangers.
Traveling outside the US and even out of the South, I have gotten compliments on my accent. My brother has gotten weird looks and even insults. We grew up together, but with different friends and interests, so we have different Southern accents.
Some people on a train in Europe had a discussion about our accents because they were surprised we were from the same family. They said they liked mine because it was a softer accent and better articulated, whereas my brother’s accent was what they called “country”.
6. Love it or hate it.
I usually associate the American accent with Hollywood and celebrities.
It sounds normal when I hear it in films but when I hear it in real life it’s kinda odd.
I also really like the southern accent.
5. That’s a great description.
My in-laws were both born and raised in North Carolina.
Highly educated.
Both speak like they have a mouthful of marbles.
4. That’s kind of nice, right?
England here. As others have said, we’re kind of normalised to it thanks to TV, movies, etc. But it always sounds a little strange in real life. Now and then you hear an American in England and (not to be rude) they almost always seem to be the loudest voice in the room. Not like they’re shouting or being obnoxious or anything, their voices just seem louder. One time I was sitting in a hotel lobby in Wales and this American guy walked in. The sheer bass of his voice was astounding.
Honestly though (and this is a bit off-topic), more shocking than the accent is just the manner of speech and general behaviour. I never get this impression from the way people talk online, but it seems like in North America (I’ve been to Florida and to Canada) people are always super nice to each other, especially to bus drivers, cashiers, etc. They always have such complete and wholesome goodbyes. “Thank you very much! You have a great day, God bless”, etc. By comparison it feels like we over here are all just depressed and want minimal human contact. “thx”
3. Short answer? No.
Yes, I have an Israeli co-worker who can’t understand why people ask, “How are you?” as they walk away.
“Don’t they want to know?”
It’s a fair question.
2. Same, honestly.
Central Europe.
I mostly learned English from American TV Shows, so generic american accent sounds good to me, sometimes more pleasing and can understand more then UK (Londonish) accent.
I don’t find southern accent very pleasing and also the “valley los angeles” accent is horrible to me.
1. Now I want to look up videos.
I absolutely adore the New York accent. Specifically the Jewish subtype. I find it interesting how Jewish people are able to preserve their mannerisms no matter the environment.
For example, the Odessa accent is to Russian (Odessa is a port city in the south of Ukraine, great percentage of population is/ was jewish) what the NY Jewish accent is to English.
I have to say, this is pretty much what I expected.
If you’re not American, now’s your chance to tell us what you think!
