Wondering what American accent you have? Here are 3 online quizzes that can diagnose which regional dialect you use based on your pronunciation and vocabulary. We tried a dozen different dialect tests to determine which gave the clearest, most accurate feedback and analysis. One even got us pinned down to the right state!
There were definitely some duds in there, too. One thought I was British, and another said my accent was “high-pitched.” Not sure how that’s an American accent or how that’s determined from written answers. So don’t worry, we excluded those. And all of our favorites are fast and easy to take. They don’t require any apps or downloads, and most are free!
Babbel’s Dialect Quiz
The foreign language learning app Babbel has a great American Dialect Quiz on its website. It’s fast, free, and there’s no need to download an app or make an account. The 15-question quiz covers both word pronunciations (“how do you pronounce ‘lawyer’?“) and regional terminology (“do you call a carbonated beverage soda, pop, or coke?”).
The quiz results tell you which region of the United States your accent hails from. Our results were accurate, but a little bit broad. I grew up in Virginia, and they dubbed me from “The South,” even though my Southern accent is negligible. And Sherry, who is from New Jersey, got “The Northeast.” Again, accurate, but a little broad when you consider how distinct pockets of the Northeast sound (Boston vs. Brooklyn, for instance).
GoToQuiz’s What American Accent Do You Have?
Although this website is more obscure and its design is pretty outdated, GoToQuiz’s free American accent quiz is straightforward and pretty accurate. It’s only 13 questions long and focuses on your pronunciation of different vowel sounds in words like pin vs. pen, caught vs. cot, and merry vs. mary vs. marry. Heads up: there are A LOT of ads on this page, and many disguise themselves as part of the quiz. Be sure to ONLY click “Submit Answers” to get your results.
Our results were more mixed on this quiz. I got a “Midland” accent, which they say is like “not having an accent.” Having grown up near Washington DC, I am told my accent is fairly neutral or mixed, but the results don’t specifically point to this region of the country. It was fun to see our results presented as a graph of different regions though, since most people speak with a blend of regional dialects.
NYT U.S. Dialect Quiz
Our favorite accent test BY FAR, for both accuracy and depth of information, is The New York Times’ U.S. Dialect Quiz. It does sit behind a subscriber paywall, but it’s just too good not to include on this list. It’s 25 questions long, and after each response, you get a colored “heatmap” of where your answer is most common in the United States. At the end, you’re given a clear geographic picture of your accent.
The results were spot on for both of us (mine above, Sherry’s below). The heatmap was scarily accurate, and even the 3 cities they highlighted for each of us nearly triangulated where we grew up. We also noticed our final questions on the test were slightly different, showing that the quiz was adapting as we took it.
Additionally, this test provides details below the map about which of your answers were most telling. My biggest giveaway was calling a drive-through liquor store a “Brew Thru,” which is a specific chain in the Outer Banks, NC. For Sherry, it was the term “Mischief Night” (the night before Halloween). We don’t use those words often, but apparently they represent highly regionalized knowledge!
Note: The maps above show our 2026 results, but you can see our original results from when we first discussed this quiz in 2013.
Our Favorite Accent Tests: A Summary
These 3 dialect quizzes are all fun and fast to take, so we suggest trying all 3 to see how your results compare. Based on our experience, here’s are the pros and cons of each:
- New York Times US Dialect Quiz: The most accurate and most detailed quiz, but requires a subscriber account to take. Take this if you want to learn the most about what defines your dialect and how it compares to other areas of the country.
- Babbel American Dialect Quiz: The easiest quiz to complete, with a clean and free interface. Results are broad, but this is a quick & fun way to see which region of the country your accent matches most.
- GoToQuiz American Accent Test: The fastest quiz to complete, offering a bit more detailed results than the Babbel quiz. We found it to be a bit less accurate, but the nuance in the diagnosis and bar chart results made it worth taking.
Bethany says
95% Midland…. this makes sense. I currently live in Philadelphia. I have been here for 2 years now. But I was born and raised in Houston, TX and had lived in Texas my whole life until moving to Philly. I still carry my TX drivers license (it doesn’t expire until 2017, so until I am forced to change, why would I give it up). When salespeople ask to see my ID for my credit card they ALWAYS say “Texas huh? You don’t have an accent at all!” Until I use the word “y’all” and then everyone says “Are you from Texas?”
But I thought it was funny that my “Philadelphia” accent was only 8%. When I go back to Texas now EVERYONE says “you’ve been in Philly too long, you are starting to talk like them”….. haha! guess not too much!
Sarah says
I got Midland as well…..which is kind of weird because I am from south Georgia and have lived here all of my life. I guess it could be true though…..people at work are always asking me where I’m from because they say my accent isn’t as strong as everyone else’s.
Evelina says
This was SO fun! I’m Canadian (Ontario) but immigrated from Europe at an early age so English wasn’t my first language. My results were 96% “The West” and 95% “Midland”. Not surprising since I learned English by watching TV!
PS- My “about” and “loud” have the same “ou” sound! That’s only really Eastern Canada I think :)
FitBritt@MyOwnBalance says
Oh this is hilarious! It picked out that I was from NYC! But I also ranked the same as Midland and Inland North so three way tie.
Christy says
I got Midland too. What? I guess us Northern Virginia folks are exposed to so many accents that they all blend in to equal bland. I’ve tried for years to develop the true Richmond accent, but haven’t gotten there yet.
genp37 says
Took the quiz and got: 88% Midland. I was born and spent 9 years in Michigan. Dad retired, we moved to Arkansas. Graduated and ended up living in the south for the next 5 years. During Tech School, someone made a comment about my southern accent. I chose to get rid of it and have an accentless sound. Per the quiz, my results paid off :-) …until I’m really tired. Hmmmmm must.work.on.that.
Stephanie M. says
It was dead on for me. I’m from Tennessee and of course I got 96% south and proud to be! It was funny because like Sherry, I had to say the whole Mary, marry and merry out loud several times. Only then did I realize I say them all the same. Definitely southern!
Elaine says
Mine came up “Northeast” – it says i’m probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island.
I’m from Olde England, not New…
Jorja says
My results were identical to John’s. But, my in-laws make fun of me because they have an “Aunt Ginna” and my sister is “Jenna.” I think they sound they same. They tell me I’m cray-cray for ever even thinking that.
Kaia says
Haha! I got North Central which is pretty much spot on! The movie Fargo? ya I’m not that bad but that is my accent :)
Crystal Hatton says
I got Midland too. But it was 77% Northern Inland, which I find funny because I’m from South Texas and spent seven years in Chicaaaaago and now live in Kentucky. Everyone here agrees I have an accent but no one can put a finger on where it’s from.
Elizabeth Burton says
LOL!!! I was born and raised in South Carolina and it says I have a Northeastern accent!!!
Abby says
Inland North here! Yup, I’d like a pop and I’m from Wisconsin! ;) totally spot on!
marbella says
Well I’m English, and have what I would consider a neutral, Southern English accent.
My results were 100% Northeast = Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
So Sherry, you’re apparently less Jersey than a girl who sounds something like Mary Crawley.
Young House Life says
Hilarious!
xo
s
Trisha says
100% Inland North. But it’s most definitely soda, not pop.
Cheryl says
I got 100% Midland which I found very validating since I too think I have no accent. I was born and raised in Maryland and now live in Colorado, where I am occasionally told I sound Southern. The big accent issue here is whether you say Colorado so that it rhymes with “shadow” – the native way or “aficionado” – more likely you’re a transplant.
Jeana says
Mine said I was definitely from Philly. I’m from Charleston, SC and have never lived in Philly. Clearly a flawed test!
Alex says
Ha, not sure if anyone commented this…but Conan made a joke about accents and it’s like “A recent study shows Southern accents were voted the sexiest of all American accents…Boston accents came in 87th right after ‘a deer being gutted’ ” HAHA
Young House Life says
John told me he read that Southern accents were ranked the sexiest and it made me laugh! I don’t know what I expected, but that caught me by surprise!
xo
s
Kirsten says
I got 100% Boston, which is 100% correct. Even though I grew up on the NH line, my accent is way more Boston than not. My mom grew up in Jersey, though, so once in awhile if I’ve been spending too much time with her, some R’s appear on the ends of my words.
Mrs. A says
Odd results – Inland North. I’ve never been to Chicago, the Great Lakes or Wisconsin. :)
I was born in Oklahoma, raised in New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri and Kentucky, and now live in Washington State. I kinda’ think I have no accent really, but perhaps mine is now all mixed up?
Rhiannon Curto says
HA! This was such a fun exercise. I took the quiz because I was curious myself but wasn’t surprised by my answer. I got 100% for a The Inland North, which read, “You may think you speak “Standard English straight out of the dictionary” but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like “Are you from Wisconsin?” or “Are you from Chicago?” Chances are you call carbonated drinks “pop.”…funny thing is I do call carbonated drinks “pop”. Being from Buffalo, NY I’m exactly located near the great lake Lake Erie. Weird how spot on it was! I kept saying #12 over and over. Lol! Thanks again, love you guys!
Anne G. says
I was 83% The West, which is pretty spot on. I grew up in the southwest and lived in the midatlantic for a while, but then moved back West, so I am definitely mostly West, with a tiny bit of stuff I picked up from Northern Virginia….like baig with a twang instead of bag.
Tanya says
North central. Grew up in Montana. Go figure!
Kaity says
This is hilarious. Mine says that I am obviously from New York – I’m Australian.
Young House Life says
So funny!
xo
s
Amber Zelecki says
What a fun quiz and it was dead on for me. I’m from Northern Michigan and the quiz said Northern Inland, and yes when I moved out east after college I did get asked if I was from Canada…something about my “abouts” sounding like “aboats”…and saing “hey” at the end of my sentences resembling “eh?s”! Thanks for helping me confirm I’m the big Yooper (from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, nuzzled right up to good ol’ Canada) I hoped I wasn’t!!
Marie-Ange says
Haha! French little me living in Sweden got 84% Northeast, followed closely by 81% Inland North… I guess my exchange-student year in South Carolina got lossssst after so many years….sniffff
Alina says
I’m from Canada as well, and I got the same as John! I always thought I didn’t have an accent (no “aboot” and “‘eh” for me!) but when I went to a Macy’s in Florida, they heard us talk for like .5 seconds and were like “y’all get the visitor’s discount”. Oh. I’m not turning down the 10% off though, haha!
Kelly P says
Ha! 93% Inland North. I guess my Michigan upbringing is sticking with me. Although I have trained myself not to say pop and to pronounce my last name with less of an ‘a’ instead of ‘o’ sound so as not to be misunderstood EVERY SINGLE TIME. That was funny :)
P.S. My British husband took it and got a Boston accent too. Weird!
Ellen T. says
Can’t deny it – scored 100% Philadelphia. And I grew up only 25 minutes west of the city.
Rachel says
Spot on. I have a “mid-land” accent. I’m from Oregon which doesn’t have much distinct pronunciation in the vocabulary department. One good thing about having “no accent” is my brother is a ESL (English Second Language) teacher and not having an accent makes it easier for him to be understood by his students.
Erin says
Mine said “people might mistake you for a Canadian”. Which is awesome because I’m Canadian. But let me just point out to my neighbours (yeah that’s how we spell that) to the South – there isn’t one “Canadian” accent. We have regional accents just like y’all (that’s how we impersonate you – like how you say “eh” to be like us – although I must point out – you use it incorrectly). I’m from the Prairies – people west and east of me in Canada sound differently. And although I live near Fargo – they don’t sound like us either!
Cass says
I’m from Canada and got a Midland accent…and then did the general “What Accent Do You Have?” quiz and got (surprise!) Canadian. Definitely think they should make a “What Canadian Accent Do You Have?” quiz. There are probably as many variations on the Canadian accent as there are on the American…as an Ontarian, I can’t get enough of my Manitoba friends saying “Manitoba”!
Cammy says
I got the “basically no accent” accent, which makes sense because I’ve moved around basically my whole life. Maybe if you’ve never lived in a place for too long you don’t develop an accent, instead speaking in a “unaccented” voice that’s considered the average American voice?
Kimberly @ Turning It Home says
That was fun! I always say I have no accent, until one man commented that me saying “soda” was weird and I must have been from Minneso-da. Born and raised Floridian here with a an 89% southern accent that I swear I don’t have. Although I did receive a 88% Midland accent, which I can agree more with, ha!
My mother was from Jersey and moved to Florida when she was 14. She was picked on because of her accent so shortly learned the ways of Florida speak but my grandma still takes the daaahg for a waahlk. ;)
Meg says
North Central. I sound like the cast of Fargo and slightly Canadian. Yup. Sounds a bout right :)
Peachy Keen says
Soooo I am from Sydney, Australia and I took the test just for fun.
And I got 100% Northeast!
“Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.”
Not sure what this says about my ‘accent’!! I did notice that I pronouce each word quite differently (Mary, merry and marry all sound nothing alike when I speak!).
Jan says
I scored 85% The Inland North which is pretty funny as I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia.
Abby says
100% Inland North: “You may think you speak “Standard English straight out of the dictionary” but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like “Are you from Wisconsin?” or “Are you from Chicago?” Chances are you call carbonated drinks “pop.””
Yep, that’s me. I’m from Wisconsin and Michigan – spot on. Now living in the south and I get some funny looks when I say pop :)
Andy says
I took the test just for fun (I’m Brazilian) and my result were: “The Inland North”. Not sure how I’m supposed to feel about it.
Jem says
I got 100% Northeast and I’m from Australia!
Lauren says
93% South… I guess the 7% off is the fact that I’m from Charleston, SC. :)
Lauren S. says
This cracked me up! I’ve lived my entire life in NC, but it said I had a North Central Accent (89%), and my LOWEST score was southern.
However, though this might sound weird, I think this would vary greatly depending on if I was using my “normal” voice or my “polite” voice. Whenever I’m making an effort to be super polite to people (especially over the phone, and even more especially because most of my company’s clients are from the Deep South), I sound REALLY SOUTHERN. But when I’m just in a relaxed setting around family/friends it doesn’t sound that intense, probably because my mom is of French/English Canadian background (through grew up in Latin America and Florida – she has “zero” accent), and my dad grew up in various east coast places. It must be the (formerly) Canadian parent who did this to me.
Donna says
To my Southern friends: first, love your accents, but two, what is the difference being from the South vs. the Deep South? Are they more southern states, or more the kind of place where you haven’t had loads of Yankees move in to water down the accent or customs? I’ve been to Charlotte, which was beautiful, and most people just had soft accents, and the rest where from New York. We were told they’re called Halfbackers, those from NY who move to Florida, discover it’s too hot, and move halfway back. I loved that. I dream of being a Halfbacker! :)
Nina says
I got The Midland. And since I’m from Switzerland, I was very flattered – especially about the “no accent” part :-)
Kelly says
What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Midland
“You have a Midland accent” is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.” You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Result Breakdown:
100% The Midland
85% The South
60% Philadelphia
56% The Inland North
53% The West
39% The Northeast
19% Boston
15% North Central
Quiz URL: http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have
Caity says
93% Inland North – I’m from Central Michigan, so it’s pretty dead on. I lived in Virginia for a summer and everyone lovveedd by accent. My friend said I really articulated my vowels, and she just loved it. I’m so intrigued by things like this- thanks for posting!
Theresa says
Well they got my accent dead on. According to the quiz, my accent is as “Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you’re not from Philadelphia, then you’re from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington.” I was raised in Baltimore and after a few years away, I back living there permanently. (Although I still think I don’t have an accent…but everyone else does! :) )
Liz says
What a surprise…. Being Canadian, my Canadian accent marks me as Minnesotan!
Alex says
This is hilarious – as a Canadian i always thought in your videos that John had such a Southern accent! I also got Northern Central…funny. I’ve seen Fargo and we made fun of their accents throughout the whole movie :P
Donna says
OK, this was a riot. I love accents, probably because being from Syracuse, I don’t really have one. I really am addicted to the Boston accents after a trip to Maine my hubby and I took two summers ago. We bought a couple lobsters ( I’m sorry, lob-stahs ), and asked the man who worked at the counter if he could sell us some melted butter. He said: ” Ah bock “. My husband said ” Sorry ? ” The man repeated ” Ah Bock “. Still confused, my husband said ” what? ” and the guy, exasperated said loudly ” THATAH BE A BOC!!!” and my husband finally gets it and goes, ” oh, you mean a BUCK! “, and the guy said ” THATS WHAATAH SAID! A BOCK!!!!!”. We still crack up about that, and have much love and respect for the fine folks in that region. They are the salt of the earth kind of peeps. Great post.
Holly says
I took this quiz a few weeks ago and got “The West” which was no surprise since I was California born and raised. My parents were from Cali too.