California

Whoa, dude: California accent is among sexiest in the country for dating, study says

A silhouette of a couple with the setting sun between them.
A silhouette of a couple with the setting sun between them. Getty Images

Here’s something hella cool: Californians have one of the sexiest accents in the country when it comes to dating, according to a new study.

The “easy-going” Californian accent came third place on a list of the top 10 most attractive accents in the United States, sports betting site PennStakes said, based on the number of times online mentions included the keywords “attractive,” “sexy” and more.

The Southern accent, which received a total of 76,940 mentions, ranked No. 1 in the study.

“People with a Southern accent are usually perceived as hospitable, charismatic and charming, so it’s not shocking that it steals the top spot,” PennStakes said. “If you’re looking for dependability in your dating life, this might be one of your favorites.”

The New York accent came in second place, with 70,460 mentions.

Why is Californian accent considered sexy?

The Californian accent came in third place on PennStakes’ list, with 45,360 online mentions.

The study found the Californian accent “epitomizes the carefree West Coast spirit.”

“Often associated with surfing and sunny days, it’s no wonder people gravitate towards the easy-going Californian voice,” PennStakes said in the study.

What are the top 10 most attractive U.S. accents?

These are the top 10 most attractive accents found in the United States, according to PennStakes:

  1. Southern accent
  2. New York accent
  3. Californian accent
  4. Texas accent
  5. Boston accent
  6. Midwestern accent
  7. Miami accent
  8. Chicago accent
  9. Minnesotan accent
  10. New Orleans accent

How did study come up with rankings?

To rank the top 50 most common accents across the United States, PennStakes conducted social listening research through the platform Brandwatch.com between February 2023 to February 2024.

Any online post mentioning the accent alongside words such as “attractive,” “sexy,” “charming” or “hot” was counted.

The more online mentions, PennStakes reasoned, the more attractive the accent.

Have a question about life in California?

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We’ll answer your questions — big and small — about state laws, history, culture, recreation and travel.

Ask your questions in the form below (can’t see it? Click here) or email howtocalifornia@mcclatchy.com.

This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Whoa, dude: California accent is among sexiest in the country for dating, study says."

Angela Rodriguez
The Modesto Bee
Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.
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