The Student Room Group

If I moved to the US/Canada in my late 20s will my accent change

Im currently a teen living in England going to college at the moment. I plan on doing a Business degree once I've completed college and will try get a PHD in it but I was wondering if I moved to the US or Canada after I get my PHD will this affect my accent? I will probably move there once I've got my PHD for more opportunities to get a good job as theres a lot more business related ones there. Anyways will this change my accent if I stay there for 10-20 years.
Original post by cheesetop
Im currently a teen living in England going to college at the moment. I plan on doing a Business degree once I've completed college and will try get a PHD in it but I was wondering if I moved to the US or Canada after I get my PHD will this affect my accent? I will probably move there once I've got my PHD for more opportunities to get a good job as theres a lot more business related ones there. Anyways will this change my accent if I stay there for 10-20 years.


It depends on your personal ear for accents. Some people adopt local accents within hours. My American neighbour has lived in the UK since 1973 but still sounds as if she flew in from Philadelphia yesterday.
It depends how you intergrate into society, over the pond. Of course there will be minor changes, as the people you speak to will change. It's entirely unique
Reply 3
Your accent might change, it might not.
I live in the US and when staying up in Boston for just a month, I started to get a slight accent.
Thats just me though, your accent might be different.
Reply 4
Southern American accents are lovely
Original post by Toscana
Southern American accents are lovely

:confused::s-smilie:
If you choose to assimilate into the society, frequently socialise with a lot of the locals and immerse yourself in local popular culture- yes.
Reply 7
Original post by Bookworm_88
:confused::s-smilie:


Just stating my opinion lol
Reply 8
when i lived in Australia i started mimicking their inflections but no, i'd say my accident didn't change. i also knew a few Americans who'd been there 10+years and their accident hadn't change either. but like it's already said, depends on the person. probably also depends how badly you want to make it happen.
Original post by Toscana
Southern American accents are lovely

agree the way Spanish is spoke in Latin America has the added flavour :smile:
Original post by Bookworm_88
:confused::s-smilie:


Original post by Toscana
Southern American accents are lovely

Sorry! Thought you meant Texan etc. Southern states!:tongue:
I'm American and I've lived/studied in London for three years and my accent hasn't changed significantly- I've had people say I sound a bit different when I'm in the UK, but not enough to sound not-American. And as soon as I come back to the US it sounds fully American again! But it varies from person to person- one of my friends went to Australia for a month and came back sounding significantly Australian.

Quick Reply

Latest