People from New York City unabashedly show off their native accent, and rightfully so. It’s powerful, straightforward, and charming in its own gruff way, just like the city itself. The US is often portrayed as a melting pot, and there is truly no bigger example than NYC. Some of the largest communities in New York City include Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Koreans, Chinese, and Jewish populations. However, this list barely scratches the surface. The diverse tapestry of languages spoken on the streets and the way these cultural varieties have blended together play a significant role in shaping the unique New York City accent.
For this article, we’re going to focus on a general New York City accent, though there are minor variations between the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, etc. If you’re thinking about the classic New York accent, you’re probably thinking of Brooklyn.
The Sound Itself
In linguistic terms, the accent is non-rhotic, meaning the -r sound is dropped at the end of many words, or sometimes in the middle, like “go to a pah-ty.” The vowels are also markedly different from generic American, with the -O sound becoming an -ah or -aw. That turns a New York coffee into the classic “New Yawk caw-fee.” Depending on the borough, the -ir and -er sounds can become almost like -oi, making “First Street” sound like “Foist Street.”
Body Language, Volume, and Pragmatics
New Yorkers are characterized as being loud and expressive, which some believe developed as a natural way to be heard over the bustling backdrop. NY natives are known for talking with their hands and getting to the point. The stereotype is that they’re rude and constantly interrupting, but there are actually different social norms and rules for things like taking turns when conversing, when it’s okay to cut someone off, etc.
New York City Accents in Fiction
Movies and television love to milk this accent for all its worth, and the accent itself has become a go-to for screenwriters. Need a character who tells it like it is yet is still endearing to audiences? Give them a New York accent, load their lines in the script with phrases like “toikey boid” (turkey bird), and you’re good to go.
New York City accents are not just an easy way to give a plain Jane character some street smarts, however. Some of the most renowned characters of all time have had pronounced New York City accents. One classic variation is the Italian-American accent. It is typically used for a tough guy, like a Vito Corleone or Tony Soprano, but can be used for more lighthearted characters as well, like Joey Tribbiani from Friends.
New York City Slang to Know
Kid/Son
This is a way of showing affection to someone who is not your actual offspring. It’s sort of like an intergenerational “bro.”
Bodega
Similar to a 7-11 or gas station in suburbia, the bodega is the little store on the corner where you can get a drink, a pack of smokes, and maybe a sandwich.
The City
Even for those born and raised inside one of the five boroughs, Manhattan is still referred to as “The City.”
The Garden
Put a pro sports game or concert in Madison Square Garden and you’ve taken it from just an event to a true spectacle. From the Ali-Frazier “Fight of the Century” to the Knicks and their famous fans to Justin Bieber selling out two concerts in 30 seconds, nothing tops “The Garden” for star power.
Pie
A pie is one whole pizza. If you just want one piece, you look for a slice.
Schlep
This means to carry something a long way in a cumbersome journey.
Regular coffee
Regular coffee is not black, but rather a hot coffee with sugar and milk.
Brick
The weather in New York can get brutally cold, and when the wind is whipping between buildings and freezing your face, people say it’s “brick” outside.
Get outta here
A stereotypical but fun NY expression that can have a variety of meanings, from “No way!” to “You’re nuts.”
Fuhgettaboutit!
Another wiseguy classic, “Forget about it” is a New York way of saying let’s move on, or who cares? Bonus points if you shrug, put your palms up, and make the proper face.
Mad
Not directly related to anger, this simply means very or really, as in “mad brick.”
Cop
From the Hypebeast and Supreme days, to “cop” something means to buy or obtain it.
Beef
New Yorkers are never afraid to hold their own, and a slight disagreement can evolve into a prolonged and drawn-out conflict, or “beef.” The hip-hop world brought this term to the main stage, and it means constant tension between two people, with the potential to erupt at any time.
How to Talk with a New York City Accent
There is tons of reference material to use, so you can get warmed up by watching old Pacino or Deniro movies to get in the right frame of mind. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can also study the great Bugs Bunny, who speaks with a Brooklyn accent.
Then drop your r’s, turn those long o sounds into aw’s like “gaw-bage,” and don’t be afraid to get loud and speak with your hands. Is it hard? Fuhgettaboutit!
