NJ accent is among the most difficult when traveling abroad, poll says

Have you ever traveled out of state or out of the country and had difficulty getting your point across? Apparently you’re not alone.

A study performed by FamilyDestinationsGuide.com recently revealed that our New Jersey accents are one of the most misunderstood accents in other countries.

After polling thousands of families to determine how difficult different accents are, it was determined that New Jersey’s was the seventh most difficult for outsiders to understand.

According to the study:

[The New Jersey accent] is characterized by its flat and nasal tone, with certain vowels being pronounced differently from standard American English. For instance, the "o" sound in words such as "coffee" and "dog" is pronounced like "aw," while "r" sounds are often dropped or softened.

I guess others need to know that “water” can sometimes be pronounced “wooder” if you’re talking to someone from south Jersey.

Should they hear us ordering a cup of “cawfee,” we’re simply asking for some coffee.

Also “djeet” is just a shorter way of asking “excuse me, friend, did you eat yet today? If not, would you like to?”

And don’t for a second try to tell me you’ve ever heard someone legitimately say “Joisey.” Anyone who does is a liar who shouldn’t be trusted.

The most misunderstood accent went to Rhode Island, meanwhile it appears the Hawaiian accent is the most clear to outsiders. You can see the full study here.

But you know what I think? You can’t understand us? So what? I don’t need to talk to you, fughedaboutit.

Here's how you can tell if someone is an outsider:

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5's Kylie Moore. Any opinions expressed are Kylie's own. You can follow Kylie on Instagram.

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