With English speakers on every continent in the world, it’s easy to assume that people around the world should be able to understand each other—at least when they’re speaking English. But like other widely spoken languages, English has broken into many different dialects that reflect the languages of surrounding cultures.
But what is an English dialect, and how many dialects of English are there? Learn all about the many English dialects spoken around the world, how a dialect is different from an accent or interlanguage, and which dialects of English may be easiest for Americans to understand.
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What are English dialects?
English dialects are varieties of English spoken by different English speakers around the world. Like dialects of other languages, they share most vocabulary and grammar patterns with their main language. Otherwise, they’d be considered separate languages instead of meeting the definition of a dialect.
Many English dialects have distinctive words and phrases, syntax, and pronunciation patterns (also known as phonology) that signal where an English speaker is from. However, dialects are different from accents, as accents only describe the way a person pronounces their language. It doesn’t refer to the unique phrases and syntax that a dialect can have.
The most common dialects of English
So how many dialects of English are there? Experts estimate that there are over 100 English dialects spoken worldwide. But because around 1.5 billion people speak English globally, it’s difficult to count the number of English dialects. American English, for example, has several subdialects within it and even more subdialects within those. (Just compare the dialect of someone from Georgia and someone from Minnesota, and you’ll see how different dialects can be!)
Take a look at some of the more common English dialects spoken around the world, as well as the languages that influenced their departures from the original English dialect, British English, throughout the history of the English language.
| English Dialect | Country | Language Influences |
| American English | United States | Spanish, French, German, Native American languages, West African languages |
| Australian English | Australia | British English, Scottish English, Aboriginal languages |
| Bahaman English | Bahamas | British English, West African languages, Taino |
| British English | England | Old English, Norman French, Latin, German |
| Canadian English | Canada | British English, American English, French, Native American languages |
| New Zealand English | New Zealand | British English, Australian English, Māori |
| South African English | South Africa | Afrikaans, Dutch, Zulu, Xhosa |
| South Asian English | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka | British English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali |
North American English dialects
British colonists brought the English language to North American shores, where it shifted over the last few hundred years in dramatic ways. Some linguists believe that there are more than 24 American English dialects, though these dialects don’t always account for the subdialects in each region.
African American Vernacular English
African American Vernacular English, also known as AAVE, has roots in the American slave trade. This dialect of English combines elements of Southern American English and many West African languages, and today it’s a major influence on modern American slang.
| AAVE Phrase | Meaning |
| bougie | overly fancy |
| fam | friends and loved ones |
| yo | hey (or hello) |
Cajun American English
A historical and linguistic leftover from 17th-century French control in the lower United States, Cajun English is heavily influenced by Louisiana French and Spanish. It’s spoken mainly by people living in southern Louisiana and is marked by very quick speech, no southern drawl, and anglicized French terms in its vocabulary.
| Cajun Phrase | Meaning |
| ahnvee | hunger |
| allons | let’s go |
| cher | sweetheart |
Canadian English
The term “Canadian English” stretches nearly as far as the Canadian border itself, as it covers many subdialects all by itself. It ranges from a Scottish influence in Ontario to a strong French influence in Montreal and an American-sounding Pacific Northwest English dialect in British Columbia, where speakers sometimes sound more like they’re from California than Canada.
| Canadian English Phrase | Meaning |
| Eh? | Right? |
| hoser | fool |
| clicks | kilometers |
Chicano English
Chicano English is a common English dialect in the Southwest United States, namely in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the rest of the region. While it may sound similar to Spanglish, an interlanguage that switches back and forth from English to Spanish, it’s a distinct dialect of English with a strong Spanish influence from neighboring Mexico.
| Chicano English Phrase | Meaning |
| ese | dude, friend |
| no manches | I don’t believe you |
| orale | wow |
Midwestern English
Known as one of the more “neutral” English dialects, Midwestern English is marked by strong Scandinavian influences and its signature flat “a” sound. Regional variants in northern American states, including Minnesota and Michigan, often sound very similar to Canadian English just above the border.
| Midwest English Phrase | Meaning |
| ope | oops |
| uff da | I’m overwhelmed |
| you betcha | absolutely |
New England English
Despite spanning a relatively small area, New England English covers many subdialects of English. Northeastern New England English includes Maine and the distinctive Boston dialect (which turns “car” to a dropped “r” sounding “cah”), while New York English has strong influences from Italian, Spanish, Yiddish, and Russian immigrants in the area. Western New England English, spoken in Vermont and western Massachusetts, tends to sound more like the neutral Midwestern dialect.
| New England English Phrase | Meaning |
| all set | no thank you |
| ayuh | yes |
| wicked | very |
Southern American English
While Southern American English is a subdialect of American English, it actually includes a variety of additional regional dialects that reflect the area’s historical Scottish, Irish, and African influences. It ranges from a more “cowboy” sounding Texas dialect that brings Western culture to the South, all the way to the deeper, slower drawl of Georgia and Mississippi in the Deep South, which connects more to the Appalachian dialect of the region.
| Southern English Phrase | Meaning |
| bless your heart | I feel bad for you |
| fixin’ to | about to |
| y’all | you all |
West Coast American English
Many English learners discover the West Coast American English dialect through television shows, particularly those made or set in California. This dialect incorporates surfer culture on the Southern Californian coast, a rural drawl from Oklahoma Dust Bowl settlers in the Central Valley, and the Pacific Northwest that combines these dialects with the Canadian English influences above the border.
| West Coast English Phrase | Meaning |
| dude | friend |
| hella | very |
| no worries | it’s okay |
British English dialects
British English may be where it all began, but describing British English as one singular dialect wouldn’t be accurate. The evolution of English dialects around the world often depended on which dialects of British English arrived on which shores, as these dialects sometimes sound different enough to be separate languages altogether. Take a look at how these English dialects combine historical pronunciation and British slang in unique ways in England.
Brummie
Spoken in Birmingham, England, the Brummie dialect is known as being more monotone and downpitched than other British accents. It’s non-rhotic, meaning that the “r” sound doesn’t have a strong pronunciation, and it has a vowel sound that makes “i” sound more like “oy” in many words.
| Brummie Phrase | Meaning |
| bab | sweetheart |
| ent | it is not |
| tara-a-bit | see you later |
Cockney English
The Cockney dialect was made famous in Roger and Hammerstein’s My Fair Lady, which depicted its speech patterns as working class in East London (or historically, anyone in earshot of the bells of the Church of St Mary-le-Bow. Cockney’s most distinctive features are its rhyming slang patterns and missing beginning “h” sounds.
| Cockney English Phrase | Meaning |
| apples and pears | stairs |
| dog and phone | bone |
| use your loaf | use your head |
Geordie
Particularly in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, people speak a dialect known as Geordie. This English dialect has strong ties to Old English with Scottish influences, and follows many vowel sounds and vocabulary patterns as Scottish English just north of the region.
| Geordie Phrase | Meaning |
| clamming | very hungry |
| howay man | hurry up |
| wey aye | of course |
London English
Often mistaken for the Standard British accent known as Received Pronunciation (RP, or “The Queen’s English”), the London English dialect covers a wide range of British dialects. Many upper-class residents of London do speak in the more traditional, old-fashioned RP accent, while middle and working-class people tend to speak in Multicultural London English dialect, a 20th-century blend of influences from the Caribbean, Black British slang, and Cockney.
| London English Phrase | Meaning |
| bloody | very (negative) |
| innit | isn’t it |
| Pardon? | Excuse me? |
Northern Irish English
The Northern Irish English dialect, also known as Ulster English, is mainly spoken in Northern Ireland and combines Irish Gaelic with Scottish English. While it sounds similar to both the Irish English and British English accents, its distinctive vowel system and word usage create a dialect unique to this part of the world.
| Northern Irish Phrase | Meaning |
| Bout ye? | How are you? |
| catch yourself on | don’t be silly |
| yeo | wow |
Scouse
Spoken in Liverpool and Merseyside, England, the Scouse dialect was made famous in the mid-19th century by the Beatles (who originated from the area). Its Welsh and Scandinavian influences give Scouse English a sound that’s quite different and easily recognizable to those familiar with British dialects.
| Scouse Phrase | Meaning |
| g’wed | go ahead |
| plazzy | fake |
| scran | food |
West Country English
Spoken in Bristol, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and other areas of western England, the West Country English dialect has roots in West Saxon and Old English. It includes a harder “r” sound after vowels than other British dialects, as well as the distinctive “Bristol L,” which puts an “l” sound at the end of words ending in a vowel.
| West Country English Phrase | Meaning |
| grockel | tourist |
| proper job | well done |
| yertizz | here it is |
Yorkshire
The Yorkshire dialect is mainly spoken in northern England, where Viking invasions in the 8th century strongly influenced the Saxon language before Old English became a more common dialect. One of its most differentiating characteristics is the shortening of “the” to “t,” leaving Yorkshire speech sounding quicker and more clipped than other British English dialects.
| Yorkshire Phrase | Meaning |
| allus | always |
| ey up | hello |
| nowt | nothing |
Other European English dialects
While England is the hub of European English dialects, other British Isles speak with their own dialects of English. These dialects reflect English influence over native Celtic languages, including Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and are common ways of speaking in these areas of the world today.
Irish English
Irish Gaelic was the primary language of Ireland before English settlers arrived in the 12th century, leading to the development of Irish English (or Hiberno-English). This English dialect reflects the Irish brogue (from the Irish word barróg, meaning “accent”), a lilting style of pronunciation that sounds distinctly Irish.
| Irish English Phrase | Meaning |
| craic | fun |
| deadly | very good |
| that’s gas | that’s funny |
Scottish English
Scottish English is an English dialect influenced by Scots, a local Germanic language spoken in Scotland. It uses a rhotic (harder) “r” sound, making it more similar to American English than British English in some instances. However, its longer vowel sounds and broad pronunciation patterns are much closer to Scots, giving Scottish English a unique and recognizable sound.
| Scottish English Phrase | Meaning |
| aye | yes |
| bonnie | beautiful |
| Whit like? | How are you? |
Welsh English
The Welsh language Cymraeg dates back to ancient Celtic languages, making it closer to one of the older languages spoken in the British Isles. Throughout its history, Welsh has been influenced by English in its alphabet as well as its English dialect, as Welsh English often sounds very similar to other British English accents today.
| Welsh English Phrase | Meaning |
| butty | friend |
| cwtch | hug |
| lush | wonderful |
Other international English dialects
North America and Europe may have the largest percentages of English speakers, but they’re not the only English-speaking countries in the world. These dialects of English emerged after a history of exploration and colonization in different parts of the world, and are common enough to make English one of the official languages of their countries.
Australian English
Up until the early 19th century, Australian English sounded quite a bit like the British English spoken by settlers on the island continent. But in the centuries since, Australian English has evolved to include influences from Scottish English and Aboriginal languages, making this dialect a unique way of speaking that reflects its specific part of the world.
| Australian English Phrase | Meaning |
| g’day | hello |
| mate | friend |
| no dramas | no problem |
Bahaman English
Like many English dialects, Bahaman English was the result of British and African languages combining during the 17th-century slave trade in the Caribbean. Today, Bahaman English is also known as Bahamese or Bahamian dialect, and it includes influences from Taíno (an Arawakan language spoken by the native Taíno people of the Bahamas).
| Bahaman English Phrase | Meaning |
| bey | friend |
| wellmuddasick | wow |
| Whatchusayin? | How are you? |
New Zealand English
To outsiders, New Zealand English may sound very close to Australian English, which makes sense due to the location in the Oceania region. However, the vowel pronunciation and vocabulary have a strong influence from the Māori people of the island, giving it a sound that differs from the typical Australian English dialect.
| New Zealand English Phrase | Meaning |
| dag | funny person |
| squiz | quick glance |
| tu meke | too much |
South African English
South African English is another dialect that sounds similar to Australian English, thanks to 18th-century British colonization, although its language influences are very different from those in Australia. African languages such as Zulu and Xhosa, along with Afrikaans and Dutch, have given South African English vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar differences from other English dialects, making it a truly individual way of speaking on the African continent.
| South Asian English Phrase | Meaning |
| ach man | oh man |
| boet | brother, friend |
| lekker | great |
South Asian English
Sometimes known as Desi English, the South Asian English dialect combines a common London dialect with South Asian languages like Hindi, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan. Dating back to British colonization on the Indian subcontinent, South Asian English is a common second language spoken by the Indian population and is listed as an associate official language in India.
| South Asian English Phrase | Meaning |
| do the needful | do what’s necessary |
| glassy | thirsty |
| kindly | please |
English interlanguages around the world
Some English dialects depart far enough from the main English language that they would be considered new languages altogether. When they come from combining two languages, they’re known as interlanguages, which sound more like speakers are switching back and forth between two languages than using a dialect.
Common English interlanguages include:
- Denglisch (German English)
- Dunglish (Dutch English)
- Franglais (French English)
- Hinglish (Hindi English)
- Honglish (Hong Kong English)
- Singlish (Singaporean English)
- Spanglish (Spanish English)
- Taglish (Philippine English)
- Runglish (Russian English)
Why are there so many English dialects?
The reason there are so many English dialects in so many countries dates back to the 16th-18th centuries, when British explorers were colonizing regions all over the globe. With their colonies came the English language, specifically the British English dialect.
Colonists and Indigenous people continued speaking English in these areas, which was later influenced by local languages as well as languages from other European explorers (including Spanish, Italian, French, and Dutch). These influences created new English dialects that were distinctly different from British English.
Even though the British Empire doesn’t reach the same corners of the world as it did centuries ago, its influence remains in the hundreds of English dialects that are still spoken globally.
English, an ever-evolving international language
One of the reasons we can’t count the exact number of English dialects is that the number constantly changes. With 21st-century developments in communication and sharing information, more people than ever are able to learn how to speak English from anywhere in the world—and their native language has a hand in developing a new dialect of English.
To discover more about language history or to start your own language journey, learn more about how Rosetta Stone works today. Tools like TruAccent speech recognition ensure that you’re mastering the pronunciation of your desired dialect, making you sound like a local even faster. You may find that learning a new language can enrich your understanding of English, no matter which English dialect you currently speak!
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