When you think of English, you might think of the vocabulary and accent of the English-speaking region you grew up in. Or you might think of the English you learned at school. The truth is English is the official language of many countries around the world. That means there are many different accents and variations depending on the country.
Now imagine the many variations of English that exist within just one country! Oh yeah, it’s true, in just one country you can find different English dialects. England is the perfect example of that.
Of course all British can understand each other, because after all they speak the same language. Nonetheless, there are still some differences in vocabulary and accent from region to region.
On this blog we’re going to show you some of the different language dialects from England along with some British accents in general. This guide will be useful for when you have to travel to England. But especially, to pick the type of British English you’d like to learn.
Cockney
This is one of the most popular British accents out there and it belongs in London. It goes back to the 1840s. Its name refers to the cockneys of London’s East End, as they used this accent. That’s why cockney dialect still refers to the working class of that part of London. Market traders used to use this accent, and some still do till this day.
With this dialect came along the “rhyming slang”. An example of this rhyming slang would be: “Bees and money” for “honey”.
A particular sound of this type of British accent is that they replace the “th” sound for an “f”. They also tend to drop the “t” that are in the middle or at the end of words. Another thing is that they also tend to drop the “h” sound.
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is known to be England’s largest county, which is also called “God’s Own Country” by its people. The Yorkshire accent is also called “Broad Yorkshire” or “tyke”.
The Yorkshire dialect replaces the classic “the” sound for the glottal stop, so it’s more like “t”.
A very particular thing about this dialect is how they say “anything” as “owt”. As well as how they say “nothing” as “nowt”. And “summat” for “something”. So if you ever go to this beautiful county, beware of these words, so you don’t get confused.
They also use “thee”, “thou” and “ye” to refer to someone as “you”.
If you visit Yorkshire and someone says “nah then” or “eyup” to you, they’re basically saying “hi”. And if they ask “ow do”, they’re asking how you are.
If you want to say “thanks” in tyke, say it like them “ta”. Yes, they do have a lot of these particular words in their vocabulary that might be difficult for you at first. But that makes them unique.
Northern Irish
Here’s a British accent from somewhere else that’s not England. We’ve arrived in Northern Ireland. To be completely honest, Northern Ireland has different accents, as it’s composed of different regions. But there are some common characteristics.
In general, this specific accent, while beautiful, can be difficult for some. Because people “skip” many letters when speaking.
A particularity of it is the sound “ou”/“ow”, which you could feel like they don’t pronounce in its totality. They make a shorter “ow” sound. So, for example, the word “sound” would sound differently in a Northern Ireland accent as you normally hear it. The same with the word “cow”, and others.
Glaswegian
Scottish accents are also diverse, as it changes as the region does. Glaswegian is one type of Scottish dialect and it’s quite difficult to understand, sometimes even for other British people.
One thing about it is that they speak with the glottal stop. They drop the “tt” that’s in the middle of words. For example: The word “glottal” wouldn’t sound as it usually does, but it’d be more like “glo’al”. Same with the word “butter”, which with the glottal stop it’s more like “bu’er”.
They also have some interesting, unique slang words. One example of that is “Weegie”, which means “Glaswegian”. “Swally” is another example, which means “an alcoholic drink”. Or if someone tells you to “Shut yer geggy”, they’re telling you to shut up your mouth.
Geordie
The Geordie accent descends from the Angles, who were North Germanic people. Maybe that’s why some find it difficult to understand? Nowadays, you’ll find this dialect in Newcastle and its surroundings.
A distinctive trait of it is that Geordie people pronounce the words that end with “er” with an “ah” sound instead. You might also hear they pronounce words with “al” letters with a long “ah” sound, like
They also have their own slang, such as “aye” which means “yes”. Or “mortal” which in Geordie is “drunk”, or “toon” which is “town”. “Why aye man” is “yes, of course”.
Received Pronunciation (RP)
Received pronunciation accent, also known as RP accent, is used in different parts of England. It doesn’t necessarily belong to just one region, but it is common to hear it in London and in southeastern England. You do have to know, though, that this type of dialect was called “public school pronunciation” at first, as it was learned and spoken in public schools.
RP accent can vary depending on who is speaking. This is because some consider that the RP spoken by older people is old fashioned, despite this being considered the accent of the upper class. Younger people speak more of a modern RP.
Besides differences that you can find through the years, RP is considered the standard British accent. That’s why till this day, this is the dialect that’s taught in foreign language schools. So, if you’re attending a British English language school, you’re most likely going to speak with the RP accent.
This dialect is also the one spoken in the media. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve heard it before in things like tv shows. In fact, it’s also called “the Queen’s accent”, as it is the dialect spoken by the queen and royalty in general.
Thanks to all those factors, maybe you already know this British accent very well; you just didn’t know it was RP.
After showing you many accents cataloged as difficult by many people, here’s one that’s one of the easiest British accents to understand, if not the easiest. This is due to how clear it is. One example of this is how RP speakers do pronounce the “h” at the beginning of the words, unlike other dialects.
Choose the Perfect English Dialect for You
Do you know which kind of English you want to learn? And do you know which English dialect you’d like to learn? These are two important questions you have to ask yourself when you’re about to start English language classes.
First, you must choose the type of English you want. Maybe you’re moving to the U.S., so you want to learn American English. But maybe your partner’s family lives in London, so you want to learn British English.
But then you may want to ask yourself which dialect that’s part of the type of English you’re about to learn, you would like to speak. Now that you know that one country can have many dialects, here are some tips for you to choose the best one for you:
Current personal life
Did you just move to Yorkshire County and are planning to stay there for a long time and build your life there? There’s your answer; it’s better if you speak how Yorkshire people do, right? That way you’ll completely understand your neighbors, your kids’ teachers, your new friends, and will fit just fine.
Or do you have many coworkers, business partners, and clients from Newcastle? Then you might prefer to learn the Geordie dialect.
Think of the way you live, what you do and the people you surround the most with. That way, you’ll totally be in tune with them.
Lifelong goals
Now that you’ve thought of your current life, you might want to think of your goals for the future. Especially those that you truly want to stick with for a long time. That way, you’ll be sure the dialect you learn will be the best for you forever and it’ll be truly useful.
Of course, anything could happen in the future, you might change your mind. Nonetheless, the goals you have now for your future self are still a good way to choose. Plus, who knows? If in some years you change your mind about your goals, maybe your dialect will still apply for your new plans.
For example: Did you just graduate journalism and communication school and are planning to work in the media? Then maybe RP accent is your way to go. Maybe your first job will be as a broadcaster. But hey, if in fifteen years you decide you want now to be a tv host, your RP accent will still work for that!
Dialect popularity
Okay, we know oftentimes, you shouldn’t base your decisions on popularity and other people. You have individuality and so you should choose based on your likes. But basing your British accent learning decision on which dialect is the most spoken it’s honestly not a bad idea.
Maybe you want to be understood by the most people possible, natives and foreigners alike. Maybe you’re traveling to England, and you want people from different regions to understand you and be able to talk to you. And so choosing the most popular accent in that country would be a great solution for that.
Likeability
If you’re not really studying English for a super serious personal decision, like business. And you’re doing it more because you just love the language and a certain country, like England. It’s all pure fun for you.
Then you might want to choose just based on which dialect you like the most. So, for example, if you love the sound of a cockney accent and think it’s super cool and unique, learn that one.
And you know what? It’s also fine to choose just based on what you like the most and it’s more pleasant to you. Go for it!
With Fluency Corp You’ll Speak Your Dialect of Choice Like a Native
Now that you have more idea of the different dialects from England, it’s time to start your language journey. But how and where? And who could possibly help you learn that specific English accent you need? Now those are other important questions! Don’t worry, we have the answers.
Fluency Corp is the perfect place to study and acquire the language and accent that you want. We have native teachers ready to share all their knowledge with you. That means everything you’ll learn will be completely useful.
Oh and our classes are customized to your language goals and needs, as well as to the job you do. So if what you need is accent training on a specific dialect, just tell us! We’ll make a plan for you.
We base all lessons in our Bellieu Method, which aims to make you achieve language fluency. All by encouraging you to speak right away using all you’ve learned so far. We know speaking is essential for a language and want you to thrive in it.
The best of all is that our classes aren’t just for you, but for your coworkers or employees as well. So, if you have some employees that need corporate language or accent training don’t hesitate to invest in classes for them. It’s not wasted money, because their improved language skills will help your company grow.
Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll be happy to help you thrive in your dialect of choice.
