Accents shape the way we connect with, trust, and perceive others —whether in casual conversations or professional settings. We explored how Americans feel about different regional and international accents. The study uncovered which are considered the friendlies, most trustworthy, and persuasive, and which might create frustration in everyday interactions.
Our study of over 2,000 U.S. respondents reveals clear patterns in how accents influence first impressions, customer experiences, and even career opportunities. We reveal which regional accents Americans find the most appealing, how the perception of accents influences customer service experiences, and how people think about their own accents in a career context. From the warmth of a Southern drawl and the Midwestern hospitality, every voice carries its own impact.
So, which accents do Americans love—and which ones do they struggle with? Let’s dive into the data.
Accents play a crucial role in communication, influencing everything from our first impressions to how much we trust someone. Whether part of customer service interactions, workplace environments, or social settings, how we speak often shapes the way others perceive us.
Voice Coach, Molly Parker, sheds some light on why this might be. “Accents are everything when it comes to first impressions. Different consonants and vowels shape the way we feel about a speaker, even before we process their actual words.” So, when it comes to deciding how we feel about a person or a situation, someone’s accent can be just as impactful as what they’re saying.
With over one-third of survey respondents saying that someone’s accent affects their first impression of that person ‘a great deal’ or ‘a lot’, it’s clear that we make assumptions about a person when hearing them speak for the first time.
We also asked people which accents matched descriptions like ‘friendly’, ‘trustworthy’, and charming’ to find out which accents put people at ease, showing just how much the way someone speaks can impact how we feel about them.
Because they define our first impressions of a person, someone’s accent can influence customer service interactions too. As Molly Parker notes, “The way someone sounds can completely shift how they’re perceived—whether they come across as confident, polite, impatient, or unsure.”
Therefore, the role that accents play in customer service can’t be understated. Friendly or soothing accents can enhance the customer’s experience, making them feel reassured and cared for. Meanwhile, accents that come across as aggressive—or even difficult to understand—may lead to frustration, affecting customer satisfaction.
All of these factors together show just how much accents matter in our daily interactions. So, which accents do people like hearing?
The Southern accent is ranked as America’s friendliest accent. Over one in three people find this accent—most commonly associated with Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and South Carolina—‘friendly’. The Texan accent specifically was voted the third friendliest accent, with 31% of participants finding it pleasant. Since many people associate the South with hospitality and a quiet, simpler way of life, it’s easy to see why these accents claimed the top spots.
Hawaii is another place people associate with a more laid back lifestyle, so it’s no wonder the Hawaiian accent came in second place, with 34% of people considering it friendly.
These three accents also came out as the most charming from our list, with the Hawaiian accent also being named the most soothing, highlighting its laid back and welcoming nature.
The Hawaiian accent also received some of the lowest votes for annoying accents. The Alaskan accent was voted as the least annoying, with only 3% of people finding it annoying.
Communication between employees and customers is a key part of service interactions, impacting everything from customer happiness, retention, and frustration. So, how an employee speaks can have a real impact on a situation.
88% of our respondents said that they experience frustration with customer service agents because of issues related to accents. In fact, one in ten people said they always experience miscommunication because of someone’s accent. This goes to show just how important accents are in customer service interactions. Parker agrees, saying, “Whether we agree with it or not, people buy into brands based on how they feel, and voice plays a huge role in shaping that impression.”
We’ve all been there—a frustrating customer service interaction can really turn someone off a brand, leading to lower satisfaction, reduced loyalty, and a negative perception of the business.
But accents can unlock positive experiences too.
We also asked our respondents which accents they found the nicest in a customer service setting. Once again, the Southern accent tops the list as America’s friendliest accent, with 27% saying the Southern accent is the friendliest accent they could hear in a customer service setting. This is followed by the Midwestern (18%) and the Texan accent (16%).
Interestingly, 35% of people also said that hearing a familiar regional accent reduces their stress levels during a customer service call, leading to less frustration or annoyance. 29% of respondents said they’re also more likely to recommend a service if a salesperson has a trustworthy accent, and a further 29% said a person who has a nice accent during a sale’s call will make them trust the company more.
Additionally, 35% said that hearing a salesperson with a pleasant accent can even be more persuasive and lead to closing a deal.
Altogether, it’s clear that accents can swing a customer service interaction. While some accents will lead to more customer frustration and dissatisfaction, others have the power to put people at ease and even boost sales.
To dig deeper into which voices people like, we asked respondents which famous person they’d like to hear in a customer service interaction. Just over one in ten people (12%) said they’d like to hear Morgan Freeman.
Freeman’s voice is deep, soothing and authoritative, the perfect mix for a tricky customer service conversation. Tom Hanks was the second choice (5%), another actor known for his distinctive voice.
Interestingly, people with a Southern accent also ranked highly, like Matthew McConaughey and Dolly Parton, reinforcing the idea that this is one of the most popular accents to hear in a customer service setting.
While male celebrities made up the top three spots—Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, and Matthew McConaughey—, some notable female options were Taylor Swift, Jennifer Anistonn, and Kamala Harris—but all of them were outranked by Donald Trump, who was the seventh most popular accent in our list overall.
But aside from their favorite celebrities, which accents do people really want to hear?
23% of people prefer interacting with a customer service agent who has an accent similar to their own, highlighting a desire for familiarity and connection in service interactions. Molly Parker explains that “If something reminds us of ourselves, we naturally feel more comfortable with it. An accent that aligns with our own experience makes us feel like we understand the speaker, and that, in turn, makes us feel understood.”
But it also points to a level of pride in one’s own accent. As Parker says, “The sound of an accent is cultural”.
To investigate this further, we asked our respondents if they agreed with the statement ‘I feel proud of my regional or cultural accent’.
Residents of Vermont ranked the highest, with 67% expressing pride in their accent. As a state, Vermont has a strong interest in preserving and remembering its heritage, so it makes sense that Vermonters would be proud of their accent.
Another highly ranked was New Mexico, with 57% saying they’re proud of their accent. Again, New Mexico is a place where someone’s accent signals the rich cultural blend of the area, with links to Native American, Spanish, and Mexican heritage.
Other top-ranking states include Kentucky (56%) and Tennessee (45%), two more regions where accents are a strong part of regional identity.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, people born outside of the United States made up 19% of the workforce. Given that people feel an affinity with familiar accents, we also wanted to explore how Americans responded to different international accents.
For attractiveness, Italian (31%), French (29%), and Australian (26%) lead the way—all accents that are known for being melodic and expressive. When it comes to charm, French (33%), Australian (32%) and Italian (31%) score high again, but the British accent ties for second place with just under one in three finding the accent charming.
Australian (24%), Irish (23%), and British (22%) accents also stood out for their humor. Humor, charm, and attraction often go hand in hand, with lighthearted accents helping people come across as more approachable and likable.
Accents are more than just the way we speak—they shape how we connect with others, build trust, and even advance in our careers. Our study reveals just how much accents influence first impressions, customer interactions, and professional opportunities across the U.S.
The Southern accent emerged as the friendliest overall, with 37% of respondents associating it with warmth and approachability.
Because accents inform our first impressions of a person or a situation, accents also play a key role in customer service interactions. With 88% of respondents reporting issues with accents on service calls, they can make all the difference when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Ultimately, accents are a powerful force in shaping perceptions—whether in everyday conversations, business interactions, or customer service. Here at Answering Service Care, we understand that communication is about more than just words, it’s about connection. That’s why we ensure every customer interaction is handled with warmth, clarity, and professionalism. Want to enhance your customer experience with a team that understands the power of voice? Get in touch with us today!
To understand how Americans perceive different accents, Answering Service Care commissioned a nationwide survey conducted by Censuswide, surveying 2,000 U.S. residents aged 18 and older. This study aimed to explore which regional and international accents Americans find the most friendly, trustworthy, and persuasive, as well as how these perceptions influence customer service interactions and professional opportunities.