1. Brooklyn Accent (New York)
The Brooklyn accent, often associated with the working-class neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York, has been on the decline for years, according to the BBC. This accent is known for its unique “aw” sound, where words like “coffee” become “caw-fee” and “dog” is pronounced like “dawg.” It was once a defining feature of not only Brooklyn but also other boroughs of New York City. People would drop “r” sounds, producing phrases like “I tawt I taw a puddy tat” (I thought I saw a pussycat), made famous by characters like Sylvester the Cat.
The accent began to fade in the late 20th century, as Brooklyn gentrified and became a melting pot of new residents from all over the world. More people began to adopt a generalized, neutral American accent, and as a result, the distinctive Brooklyn sound became less common. Though you can still find older Brooklynites who speak with a strong accent, younger generations are more likely to have a less marked speech pattern, influenced by the media and the increasingly diverse, cosmopolitan nature of the borough.
2. The Texas “East Texas” Accent (Texas)
In contrast to the well-known “Southern drawl” often associated with Texas, the East Texas accent had its own unique characteristics. It was influenced by the area’s history, with deep Southern roots and a touch of French from early settlers. Words like “y’all” and “fixin’ to” are often associated with East Texas, along with a noticeable drawl that dragged out vowels. However, the East Texas accent had a sharper, more clipped quality than the longer, slower Southern speech, UT News explains.
Over time, the East Texas accent began to fade as larger cities like Houston and Dallas became more cosmopolitan and as younger generations increasingly adopted a more neutral American English accent. The influence of Hollywood and mainstream media helped contribute to the decline, as the accent became less prominent. Today, it’s mostly found in rural areas, with younger Texans choosing more mainstream speech patterns.
3. The New Orleans Creole Accent (Louisiana)
The New Orleans Creole accent is a blend of French, Spanish, African, and English influences, developed over centuries in Louisiana, NPR explains. This accent was particularly prominent in New Orleans, especially in Creole-speaking communities, where the unique rhythm and intonation of French mixed with the Southern English accent. Words like “good” would sound more like “gud,” and “Louisiana” was often pronounced “Loo-zee-AN-a” with a particular French cadence.
Sadly, the Creole accent is becoming rarer, particularly as the younger generation in New Orleans has shifted toward mainstream American English accents. Gentrification, along with the decline in the use of French and Creole languages, has further contributed to the accent’s fading. While still cherished by older generations, the New Orleans Creole accent is now considered endangered.
4. The Tidewater Accent (Virginia)
Once heard in the coastal areas of Virginia, the Tidewater accent is considered a version of early British English, influenced by settlers from the East Anglia region of England. It was especially strong in places like Norfolk, Williamsburg, and parts of the Chesapeake Bay region. The distinctive feature of this accent was the pronounced “rhotic” sound – dropping the “r” after vowels. For example, “car” would sound like “cah,” and “four” would be “foh.” The accent also had a sing-song quality, with long drawn-out vowels that resembled older forms of speech heard in colonial times.
However, this accent has been dying out for several decades, largely due to social changes and the increasing influence of broadcast media, the Smithfield Times reports. As people from other parts of the country moved to the region, especially in the 20th century, they brought with them their own speech patterns, diluting the local accent. Today, the Tidewater accent is rarely heard, and what remains is often viewed as a quaint reminder of an earlier time in American history. While some older generations still speak with traces of it, younger people in the region have largely adopted a more generalized Mid-Atlantic accent.
5. The Chicago Accent (Illinois)
The Chicago accent, once heard throughout the city and surrounding areas, is also on the decline, particularly in the younger population, according to Chicago Magazine. Recognized for its flat “a” sounds, words like “dance” and “pants” had a distinct vowel shift, making them sound like “dants” and “pants.” The Chicago accent also featured a pronounced “s” sound, making words like “street” sound almost like “sh-treet.”
While the Chicago accent is still heard in pockets of the city, particularly in working-class neighborhoods, it’s becoming increasingly rare. With the influx of people from various regions and the influence of national broadcasting, the unique Chicago accent has been replaced by a more generalized American speech pattern, especially in younger generations. The accent now serves as a marker of a bygone era.
6. The Boston Accent (Massachusetts)
Although it’s not entirely extinct, the Boston accent is certainly less prominent than it once was, especially in younger people. This accent, famously characterized by dropping the “r” sound in words like “car” (which becomes “cah”), was once widespread in the Boston metropolitan area. Boston’s distinctive accent also features “broad a’s,” so words like “bath” might sound like “bahth.” Historically, the accent has been linked to the old Irish and working-class neighborhoods in the city.
In recent decades, however, the accent has been fading, especially as young people from outside the region have moved in. New media, including movies and TV shows, have also contributed to the standardization of American speech, with less emphasis on regional dialects. While some pockets of the accent remain in the older population, it’s increasingly rare to find younger Bostonians speaking with the full classic accent.
7. Appalachian English (Appalachia)
Appalachian English, spoken in the mountainous areas of the southeastern United States, is a rich and unique dialect with influences from early Scots-Irish and English settlers. The accent is notable for its use of non-standard grammar, such as the use of “ain’t” instead of “isn’t” or “aren’t” and the pronunciation of words like “mountain” as “moun’n.” Another distinctive feature is the elongated vowels, particularly in words like “fire” (which sounds more like “fah-er”).
This accent has seen a decline over the years due to modernization, media influence, and an increasing influx of people from outside the region. The younger generation is less likely to retain the Appalachian dialect, as they often strive to assimilate to more mainstream American accents. While the accent is still heard in some rural areas, it’s less common in urbanized Appalachian cities, and many young people opt for a more neutral or “standard” American accent in public.
8. The California Gold Rush Accent (California)
The California Gold Rush accent was once common among the miners and settlers who flocked to the region during the mid-19th century. These early Californian settlers came from various parts of the United States, and their accents reflected a patchwork of influences, including East Coast dialects, Midwestern accents, and the speech patterns of Spanish-speaking Californians. The accent was often marked by a mix of American regional dialects, with a softer, less pronounced “r” sound and a tendency to draw out vowels.
As California urbanized and became a global hub, especially during the 20th century, the Gold Rush accent gradually faded. With the rise of Hollywood and the standardization of American English through television and movies, most Californians adopted a more neutral accent. Today, while the classic Gold Rush accent is all but gone, it remains a part of the state’s colorful history.
9. The Midwestern “Farm” Accent (Midwest)
The Midwestern “farm” accent, once heard in rural parts of the Midwest, is now nearly extinct, replaced by what many perceive as the “standard” American accent. Characterized by softer, less pronounced vowels, this accent involved unique phonetic qualities, such as flattening of the “a” sound in words like “grass” (which might sound like “gr-ess”). There was also a noticeable use of the “d” sound in words like “did” and “done,” where the vowel is less emphasized than in other regions.
As urbanization in the Midwest progressed, especially with the rise of television and radio broadcasting, the farm accent became less common. The younger generations, now more exposed to mainstream culture, have moved away from this rural dialect. With less influence from the agrarian lifestyle, the Midwestern “farm” accent has all but disappeared in favor of more generalized speech patterns.
10. The Carolina Piedmont Accent (North Carolina/South Carolina)
The Piedmont accent, once spoken in the heart of the Carolinas, has grown increasingly rare as the region becomes more integrated with larger urban centers. Known for its smooth, lilting rhythm, the accent was characterized by its melodic quality, with long vowels and soft consonants. Words like “pen” and “pin” would be pronounced almost identically, and “catch” would sound more like “kay-utch.”
As more people from outside the region moved into the Carolinas, the distinctive Piedmont accent began to fade. The rise of corporate America and the influence of national media also led to the dilution of regional speech patterns. Today, remnants of the Piedmont accent can still be heard in rural areas, but in cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, it’s nearly gone.
11. The Kansas “Farming” Accent (Kansas)
Much like the Midwestern farm accent, the Kansas farming accent is becoming nearly extinct as rural communities modernize. This accent was characterized by soft vowels and the blending of certain sounds, making words like “hill” and “heel” sound more alike. The “r” sound in words like “farmer” would also be drawn out, giving it a slightly more musical, sing-song quality.
With the rise of urbanization and media influence, young Kansans have increasingly abandoned the regional dialect in favor of a more neutral American accent. As fewer people live in rural areas and the farming community becomes less prominent, the Kansas “farming” accent is becoming a rare part of the state’s linguistic history.
12. The Alabamian “Black Belt” Accent (Alabama)
The Black Belt region of Alabama, named for its rich soil, was once home to a distinctive Southern accent known for its drawn-out vowels and a slower, more deliberate way of speaking. Phrases like “I reckon” and “ain’t” were common, and the “r” in words like “car” was often dropped. The speech was deeply influenced by African American Vernacular English (AAVE), creating a unique blend of Southern and Black accents.
As Alabama’s cities became more modernized and urbanized, the Black Belt accent started to disappear. Young people from the region now often speak with a more standardized Southern accent or even with influences from mainstream American English. While the accent is still heard in some areas, especially in rural towns, it’s rapidly becoming a relic of the past.
