11 Difficult English Accents You WON'T Understand

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⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:25 - Dialect #1
1:35 - Dialect #2
3:26 - Dialect #3
5:06 - Dialect #4
6:37 - Dialect #5
8:24 - Dialect #6
9:53 - Dialect #7
11:43 - Dialect #8
13:52 - Dialect #9
15:11 - Dialect #10
16:01 - Dialect #11

📜 SOURCES & ATTRIBUTIONS:

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🖼 Images:
“Raleigh at Trinidad” by Theodor de Bry is licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

[theoldone]

I’m from Appalachia. I hated my accent so much growing up. I was ashamed of it, and would get made fun of when visiting anywhere. I did my best to lose it and I mostly have. I wish I’d known then that it was nothing to be ashamed of and the people mocking me were ignorant.

[likatalikata]

The O suffix in Liberian English is common in many other west African countries as well. Actually its the fastest way to tell someone is from Anglophone West Africa.

[C.O._Jones]

I’m a Texan, and I understand my Appalachian countrymen perfectly well. I love hearing all the dialects!

[dad.b.y]

im ethnically guyanese and trini. one of my great grandmas was actually arawak and carib! im so happy to see caribbean culture featured in this video ❤ much love!

[eosborne]

Appalachian English is such a comforting sound to me. My family lost it a few generations back when they moved to the cities for work, but I’m certain our ancestors all spoke that way.

Incidentally, most folks from the region say “App-uh-LATCH-an” not “App-uh-LAY-shun.” I often hear the joke, “If I hear you say Appalaysha, I’ll throw an apple atcha!”

[rhov-anion]

When the Appalachian started, I got such a big smile. My great-aunt spoke this way. Apparently my grandfather used to as well, but he did his best to tone it down so the grandkids could understand him. My great-aunt had no such reservation. She was a hoot, a huge storyteller, and I would listen to her tales for hours.

[flufwix]

I’m Australian. I understood significant parts of most of the accents. The development of accents and dialects is super interesting.

[brianthompson]

I'm a northern English man. My best mate was a witness in a murder trial in London. The court had to get a translator in because they couldn't understand him

[hmmmninjas]

I trained with the Singapore military. Not all had the same accent, but I'd say 75% could easily converse with the American Marines. Great group of guys.

[TxVoodoo_]

My late husband came from Appalachia, and his family speaks this way. He trained it out of his voice because he felt it was holding him back in his career, but when he'd speak to them on the phone, it would come right back. The accent he ended up with was so soft and lovely, I miss it. When my mom (native Philadelphian) came to our wedding at his parents' home, she didn't understand a thing anyone said!

[frankie]

I'm New Zealander/Australian and I have no trouble with Appalachian English. I did an online University course and some of the content was delivered by an agriculturalist in Scotland - could barely understand a word. I think maybe the english accents you think are difficult depend on which type of english accent you have.

[Henkie]

Im South African. And married to an Englishman from Grantham. Also have a few Scottish friends. One from Glascow. Stayed in Cape Town for a while. I loved this

[planetdisco]

Years ago I stopped at a cattle station in the Aussie outback that was larger than some European countries and spoke to the old bloke that had been left in charge of the homestead while the owner spent the next six weeks or so inspecting the boundary fences. Yep. Six weeks. His Aussie accent was so broad that I struggled to understand him and I’m actually Australian! What a character. Not many of them left now. I still think about him all the time…

[LotharYael]

I grew up in South Florida and later moved to Georgia so I got the Trinidadian, the Jamaican, and the Appalachian right off the bat. I really appreciated learning the history.

[silentcovemusic]

Trinidadian here! Happened to stumble upon this video. Thank you for accurately capturing demonstrations of the accent as well as its historical origin!

[pzycho_reclas]

I'm from East Tennessee and my whole familys from Appalachia. My grandmother taught me to speak without my accent cause people would think I was stupid if I used my hillbilly English. Today I can speak without it but I'm proud to have my accent and usually just talk regular. We say things like toosdee for Tuesday, haint for haunt or ghost, holler for hollow, and use lots of phrases like ive know him since he was knee high to a grass hipper and well im finer than a frogs hair split 3 ways. I love that you included Appalachia in the video I only have one issue with you... its Appalachia with a soft 3rd A no with a long 3rd A. i aint really sore at you but it is a soft A lol

[juniormynos]

Got Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica.
Only because I'm West Indian 😅
Side note: Each English speaking Caribbean country has a unique and distinctive dialect also, so whenever Caribbean people meet, we usually can tell where they're from just by their dialect😊

[vernelledouglas]

I'm Trinidadian and was pretty impressed with the view of my nation's accent. The Cape Flats was fascinating. Thanks for the knowledge.

[davidcox]

Enjoyed listening to the Appalachian speakers. My mom's people mostly came from Kentucky and Tennessee. The accent hasn't changed a great deal over the years.

[almrie]

I love that you included the South African Cape Town English.