The Michigan Accent

First of all, there are 2 distinct accents on Michigan. One is the UP (Upper Peninsula aka. "Yoopers") which sounds more like a Minnesota accent. Then there's the LP accent, which sounds like a Chicago accent.

The way we pronounce things are different...

www.michigannative.com/ma_idiosyncrasies.shtml

www.michigannative.com/ma_pronunciations.shtml

www.michigannative.com/ma_wordsphrases.shtml

When we were growing up, we were told we didn't have an accent and that our voice was the one desired for television and radio announcers. Then as I got older, I noticed a very distinguished accent.

First of all, we have a long "a." Think of when you go to the doctor and he asks to to say "ahh." We don't drink "soda," we drink "pahhp." "cot" "cat" and "caught" do not sound the same. "Mary" "marry" and "merry" sound exactly alike.

Then there's "the" and "to." "The" becomes "Duh" and "to" becomes "tuh." "I'm goin' tuh duh store, maybe Meijer's. That's another thing, it's "Meijer" not "Meijer's." Why add the "s?" I duhnno!

"Duhnno." Notice that we don't pronounce our "t" and if we do it sounds like a "d." "Important" = "impodent." Some people say we sound "nasally."

"Refrigerator" = "Fridgerraider" Why waste breadth on the "re?" You know what we mean!

"Groceries" = "groshries." Just forget about the "er."

Our "r's" are really pronounced too. Some people say we sound like pirates. "arrgh!"

Lastly, are "s's" sound like "z's" at the end of the word. "whadz up, guyz?"

Here, listen to this guy...