Question: Which regional accent ranked No. 1 as being less used by Americans in everyday speech?
Answer: According to a 2026 study surveying over 3,000 Americans about declining dialects, the regional dialect used less in everyday speech—often described by its “musical vowels and storytelling rhythms”—is Appalachian English. It topped the list ahead of the Southern accent, which was in the No. 2 position. The study found younger speakers increasingly “code-switch” to more neutral patterns to avoid stereotypes, sound professional, or fit in socially, though many still preserve elements selectively. Notably, 74% of Americans believe regional accents should be preserved overall.
