American English is like a patchwork quilt woven with words and phrases unique to different regions nationwide. From the twangy drawl of the South to the fast-paced chatter of New York City, our language reflects the diverse cultures and histories that shape each area.
This blog will introduce you to 19 surprising American regional dialects. You’ll discover words and expressions that might sound strange but are everyday lingo for folks in other parts of the country.
Appalachian English
Spoken in the Appalachian Mountains, this dialect preserves many old English words and pronunciations. Locals might say “afeared” instead of “afraid” or use “right” to mean “very.” They often drop the -g at the end of words, saying “huntin'” instead of “hunting.” Appalachian English also has unique grammatical features, like using “done” to emphasize completed actions.
Cajun English
Found in southern Louisiana, Cajun English mixes French and English influences. Speakers might use “cher” as a term of endearment or say “make groceries” instead of “go grocery shopping.” The dialect has a distinct sing-song quality and often drops consonants at the end of words. Cajun English also includes many unique food-related terms, reflecting the region’s rich culinary traditions.
Boston English
Known for its distinct “pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd” accent, Boston English has some surprising features. Speakers often drop the final ‘r’ in words but add an ‘r’ sound to words ending in ‘a.’ They might use “wicked” as an intensifier, saying “wicked smart” instead of “very smart.” Boston English also has unique terms like “bubbler” for water fountain and “packie” for liquor store.
Hawaiian Pidgin
This dialect blends English, Hawaiian, and other languages from the islands’ diverse immigrant populations. Speakers might say “da kine” as a catch-all term or use “brah” to address friends. Hawaiian Pidgin has a simplified grammar structure and often drops articles like “the.” It also includes many loanwords from Japanese, Portuguese, and Filipino languages.
Minnesota Nice
This Upper Midwest dialect is known for its sing-song intonation and Scandinavian influences. Speakers might use “uff da” as an exclamation or say “you betcha” instead of “you’re welcome.” They often add “eh” to the end of sentences, similar to Canadian English. Minnesota Nice also includes unique terms like “hotdish” for casserole and “pop” for soda.
Gullah
Spoken on the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, Gullah is a Creole language with English and African influences. Speakers might say “e” instead of “he” or “she” and use “da” for “the.” Gullah has a simplified grammar structure and includes many words from West African languages. It also preserves many African cultural traditions and storytelling practices.
Chicano English
This dialect, spoken by many Mexican Americans, blends English and Spanish influences. Speakers might use “simon” instead of “yes” or add “-o” to English words for humorous effect. Chicano English often uses Spanish word order in English sentences and includes many calques (literal translations) from Spanish. It also incorporates code-switching between English and Spanish, sometimes within the same sentence.
New York City English
Known for its fast pace and distinctive “Noo Yawk” accent, this dialect has some surprising features. Speakers might say “on line” instead of “in line” or use “stand on line” instead of “wait in line.” They often pronounce “coffee” as “caw-fee” and merge the vowels in “Mary,” “marry,” and “merry.” New York City English also includes many Yiddish loanwords, like “schlep” and “schmear.”
New Orleans Yat
Named after the greeting “Where y’at?”, this dialect is specific to New Orleans. Speakers might say “make a mud” instead of “make a U-turn” or use “neutral ground” for the median. Yat has a distinctive Brooklyn-like accent, despite being in the Deep South. It also includes many words from French and African languages, reflecting the city’s diverse history.
Pennsylvania Dutch English
Spoken by descendants of German settlers in Pennsylvania, this dialect has unique grammar and vocabulary. Speakers might say “the cake is all” to mean “the cake is gone” or use “outen the light” instead of “turn off the light.” They often place emphasis on different syllables, saying “UM-brella” instead of “um-BREL-la.” Pennsylvania Dutch English also includes many loanwords from German, like “spritz” for splash.
African American Vernacular English (AAVE)
AAVE is a dialect with its own grammar rules and vocabulary, spoken by many African Americans across the country. Speakers might use “be” to indicate habitual actions or drop the verb “to be” entirely in some sentences. AAVE has a rich system of aspect marking, allowing for nuanced expressions of time and completion. It also includes many unique terms and phrases that have influenced mainstream American culture.
Valley Girl Speak
Originating in Southern California, this dialect is known for its rising intonation and unique slang. Speakers might use “like” as a filler word or add “totally” for emphasis. They often turn statements into questions by raising their voice at the end of sentences. Valley Girl Speak has popularized terms like “whatever” as a dismissive response and “as if” to express disbelief.
Southern Appalachian English
This dialect, found in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina, has unique vocabulary and pronunciation. Speakers might use “yourn” instead of “yours” or say “hit” instead of “it.” They often use double negatives for emphasis and have a distinctive way of forming plurals, like “house-en” for “houses.” Southern Appalachian English also preserves many archaic English words and phrases.
Tangier Island Dialect
Spoken on a small island in the Chesapeake Bay, this dialect is said to resemble Elizabethan English. Speakers might say “arn” instead of “aren’t” or use “tidbit” to mean “a little bit.” They often drop the “th” sound, saying “dat” instead of “that.” The Tangier Island dialect also includes many unique terms related to the island’s watermen culture.
Pittsburgh English
Known for its unique pronunciation of “downtown” as “dahntahn,” Pittsburgh English has many surprising features. Speakers might use “yinz” as a plural form of “you” or say “slippy” instead of “slippery.” They often drop “to be” in certain phrases, saying “The car needs washed” instead of “The car needs to be washed.” Pittsburgh English also includes many unique terms, like “gumband” for rubber band and “jagoff” as an insult.
Inland Northern American English
This dialect, spoken around the Great Lakes, is known for the “Northern Cities Vowel Shift.” Speakers might pronounce “bag” more like “beg” or “bus” more like “boss.” They often use “pop” for soda and “tennis shoes” for any athletic footwear. Inland Northern American English also includes unique terms like “devil strip” for the area between the sidewalk and the street.
Ozark English
Spoken in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas, this dialect has distinctive vocabulary and grammar. Speakers might use “heap” to mean “a lot” or say “might could” instead of “might be able to.” They often use “a-” as a prefix for verbs, saying “a-going” instead of “going.” Ozark English also includes many colorful expressions, like “madder than a wet hen” to describe anger.
Maine English
Known for its distinctive “Downeast” accent, Maine English has some surprising features. Speakers might drop the “r” sound in some words but add it to others, saying “idear” instead of “idea.” They often use “ayuh” as an affirmative response and “wicked” as an intensifier. Maine English also includes many unique terms related to the state’s maritime culture, like “cunner” for a type of fish.
Miami English
This dialect blends influences from Cuban Spanish, Haitian Creole, and American English. Speakers might use “pero like” as a filler phrase or say “super” instead of “very.” They often code-switch between English and Spanish, sometimes within the same sentence. Miami English also includes many loanwords from Spanish and Haitian Creole, reflecting the city’s diverse population.
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