Learn the CHICAGO accent

Learn to speak with a Chicago accent. This is a straight forward, step-by-step process that will have you speaking with a Chicago accent in no time Don't wait until you're ready or you'll never start. It's not about perfecting the accent. It's about doing your best, having fun, and discovering new characters you can take to the stage or in front of the camera.
Check out other accent videos in the series:
Scottish - • Learn the SCOTTISH accent
Boston - • Learn the BOSTON accent
New York - • Learn the NEW YORK accent
French - • Learn the FRENCH accent
Midwest - • Learn the American MID...
British - • Video
Chicago - • Learn the CHICAGO accent
Spanish - • Video
Yiddish - • Learn the YIDDISH accent
Australian - • Learn the AUSTRALIAN a...
West African - • Video
American Southern - • Video
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[@mysticdragon111]

Not you looking just like Ben Stiller in the mustache 😂😊👍🏻

[@EphemeralProductions]

exactly! lol He could be Jewish OR Italian! but, considering his last name is Virkus, I'm going with Jewish. :):) He actually reminds me more of Adam Sandler!

[@KY_100]

it's 1:1

[@appylvr1]

I thought it was Ben Stiller for a second

[@davidpowers746]

Looks like Ben Stiller, sounds like Bob Odenkirk.

[@williampiercy2572]

idk why i'm even watching this but it's hilarious

[@jeffvirkus]

Thanks, William

[@alisha-janereardon7312]

Literally same

[@alissalavelle3460]

I'm cracking up!!

[@mariabarrera5286]

Me either

[@waterloo001mendoza7]

Watched the entire video to finally realize it was the same guy 😂

[@jeffvirkus]

Ha! That's great. Hope you found it helpful and entertaining.

[@arianna5546]

This is literally the SNL Da Bears dialect used to make fun of us Chicagoan.... We aren't nearly that whiny.... 😒

[@cubnation]

@Larki, Don't feel bad. This video is wrong. 😡😡

[@DdDd-zo2ll]

T becomes D Dat guy over dere told me to go meet him over by jewel over there.

[@prepswag5]

Lmaooo this guy in the vid sounds like a wise ASS!

[@mercutiochaux1041]

Older guys from Chicago tend to have the really heavy speech but that's about it.

[@denaeculbreth7980]

Your right. Except for when we say mom. It LITERALLY sounds like mahaahaahaammm. I wish I knew the right way to say it. Lol I've tried it's so hard.

[@fredpgeiser728]

“So I says to him” is a Chicago vernacular

[@valmacclinchy]

Also NY...

[@teri9875]

I’m watching this because I’m from Chicago and am always told I have the Chicago accent. This is pretty spot on. People often point out my accent with the “a” sound when I say “bag” or “egg.” I also get called out when I say “milk.” I’m working on my issue with changing the double “t” to “d” sound, e.g. “mitten” becomes “midden.” Some things are hard to change!

[@jeffvirkus]

Don't change too much, Teri. Such a distinct and endearing accent:)

[@Blady99]

I hear the bag egg thing in my grandma but nowhere else

[@Zectifin]

thanks to the internet accents are really disappearing in young people and I think its kinda sad. Our American accents are all so unique and love them.

[@teri9875]

@@Blady99 I’m not THAT old!

[@MultiBadger32]

Never noticed it before. But those first"a" sounds are similar to Northern Ireland, especially Derry, where people go and drive their kee-yar.

[@GirlWhat74]

I think it depends on where in Chicago you are from or suburb. Also black Chicagoans sound different than white Chicagoans. Southsiders and people from out west sound different. Black Chicagoans aren’t as glaringly Chicago. They actually sound pretty southern as many have ancestors from Louisiana and Mississippi. Many white Chicagoans are Italian, Irish or Polish and much has a huge influence on speech.

[@CGDtravels]

This was my thought. My family is from the south side of Chicago and they don't sound like this at all. I've only been around the Southside of Chicago and the downtown area.

[@okultusrexus3660]

@@CGDtravels Yeah I've been in Chicago northside for over 40 years and I don't know where they speak like this. I only ever hear this dialect in movies or shows like this.

[@ricosuave7102]

This is true. Chicago has influence from Louisiana,Memphis,Canada,French Canada,Spain,Italy and Ireland. Most black people have roots in the south and most Caucasian people from Italy and Ireland.

[@ZenaLoreace]

I agree most black retained their southern accent…Never picked up the “True Chicago” accent.

[@jameskirchner]

Actually, the Chicago dialect sounds different from Detroit, and we can really hear it when Chicagoans visit Detroit. They have a more extreme version of the Northern Cities Vowel Shift. Plus, Detroit has the ai/ʌi half of what's called Canadian Raising. Even people with heavy Detroit accents sound much different from this accent they're showing.

[@bwanadave76]

Yep. He said Detroit and I said you mean Cleveland. Also, everybody in Chicago knows it's pronounced "Dee-troit Sux!"😄

[@beachykeenx]

I’m from Chicago and this couldn’t be more on point 😂

[@jeffvirkus]

Thanks for the feedback, Beachy. Appreciate you:)

[@jeffb8562]

I’m 39 and haven’t lived there since I was 12. It comes back quick

[@jeffvirkus]

@@jeffb8562 That's fortunate. Wouldn't want to lose one of the most endearing accents.

[@samsonite8400]

Oh my gosh I'm from Chicago and when I'm in a different state I can really hear my Chicagoan accent. I think people think I sound overly pleasant or animated compared to their harsh tones but I can't help it. This is the way I speak coming from the Midwest.

[@user-ru6mq5sc5n]

I grew up in Northern Illinois for 18 years and have been away for over 30 years. When I come back to visit I notice it immediately in most people not just in the city. As many people have said more so in older people more so, but young people have it also just not as strong.

[@jeffvirkus]

Such a distinct accent. I associate it with decent, good humored folk.

[@merccadoosis8847]

Grew up in Brooklyn NY but moved to Minnesota several decades ago and still retain the old Brooklyn accent. When I fist listened to Bill Gleason on WGN I loved his South Side accent. Sadly, you just don't hear anything like that anymore. Same with Bernie Sanders and his old Flatbush accent. Gentrification kills old neighborhood accents! To me, that's a crime against humanity.

[@bossfan49]

Comedian Jonathan Katz once joked. "I'm from NY, but I lived in LA for 5 years and when I came back I was already out of tune with the accent. I went into an office building and the elevator guy said "Call out your floors." I said- "I'm impatient with the elderly." 😀

[@EphemeralProductions]

I have always loved the Chicago accent! Really, it's just a Midwestern accent with only a slight affectation. :) Chicago, Michigan, northern Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, I love that accent and all its variations! To me, the upstate New York accent sounds a bit similar, so I love that one as well! :)

[@jeffvirkus]

There is definitely a charm to the Chicago accent. One of my favorites.

[@tharuler219]

😂 Yeah, but this is definitely white Chicago dialect!

[@mojojojo3411]

I'm fine was wrong tho. And so was Awesome and Stop. Also, dont forget about roof. Which is not ROOF but RUFF like a dog. But ALSO, remember there are lots of Chicago accents.

[@jeffvirkus]

ROOF to RUFF....Yessss! Great point. Hopefully, viewers will take the general guidelines from this video and further research specific dialects within the Chicago area they are trying to dial into.

[@brandenicole7]

Yall really need to start specifying that this is how southside white ppl from Chicago talk mostly cause black ppl from Chicago dont sound like this

[@jeffvirkus]

Great point. Thanks, Brande

[@jeffvirkus]

@@christopherburroughs8744 Now that's an accent I'd like to take a crack at.

[@rjdaigle7276]

outstanding job and absolutely hilarious

[@jeffvirkus]

Thanks a lot, RJ. I really appreciate the feedback.

[@kirkury]

You hear dis stereotype aygcent more on da sout cide, and amongst certain blue collar nord ciders, along with putting a preposition at the end of a sentence. "Ayyy where do you live, at?" There is also a predominant combination of this aygcent mixed witta NewYorkesque kinda ting going on witin da goomba toughguy community. Ayyyyy howyadoin? How about a nizzze joozey beef wit giardinara ahhhh?! Regardless, Ben Stillers 'andsome twin did a preddy goo' chob on dis!

[@jeffvirkus]

Great post, Kirkury B. Very helpful insight. Appreciate you!!!

[@cubnation]

*The Chicago accent is **_NOT_** the same as Buffalo or Detroit! Lumping them together is just plain wrong.*

[@Nurichiri]

I'm from Chicago and had a back and forth with the vowel shift with someone from Buffalo (hot/hat)

[@mercutiochaux1041]

I can see lumping Chicago and Buffalo together. They're not the same, but they're pretty similar in most ways. Detroit however, fuck no. People from Detroit sound totally different.

[@macysred]

@@mercutiochaux1041 it is. i don't what those vowels ever did you you all..but you all hate them.

[@mercutiochaux1041]

@@macysred Which vowels?

[@rogersteinway5680]

I can't agree if we are talking about white baby boomers. Many share the "Great Lakes" accent with local variations.

[@supt_martha_of_chicagoP.D]

As a sout sider myself, I can so relate to dis.

[@jeffvirkus]

Go Sox! Best House Parties, ever:)

[@JS-iy4zb]

I grew up in Detroit but have lived in Chicago for 16 years. They have the same vowel shifts, but I can still hear slight differences that tell me I’m not in Detroit. When I go home, I’m like “omg you guys sound so Detroit”.

[@gabrielalvarado3348]

Ever since I moved to Texas I’ve been getting stared at whenever I talk 🥲

[@jeffvirkus]

I hope it serves as a conversation starter with friendly people.

[@BatmanHQYT]

Now I'm realizing how much Bob Odenkirk sounds like this.

[@jeffvirkus]

Straight outta' Berwyn, Illinois

[@robertmartin1807]

You hear a lot in older people especially. Most of them who run mom and pop joints or have lived in the city for many many years. This is accurate. People from Chicago say they don’t have an accent but they sure do have one!

[@Kleineganz]

When I first moved out to Colorado, everyone immediately knew I was from Chicago because of how I spoke. It always caught me off-guard because until then, I didn't know we had a discernable dialect at all. 🤣 (However, after living in Colorado for 28 years, I've mostly lost the dialect). This was a fun reminder of what English sounded like growing up (fun fact, German was my first language. Both of my parents and their parents immigrated to Chicago from Europe). I grew up near DePaul University.

[@jeffvirkus]

Do you have any trace of a German accent left? What a fun combo that would be...Chicago/German.

[@Kleineganz]

@jeffvirkus I never had a German accent. Nor do I have an American accent when speaking German. The perks of being raised bilingual.

[@pendejo69]

@@jeffvirkus If I'm not mistaken German and Polish were huge influences on the Chicago dialect. Can hear it in the vowels.

[@gungho6026]

My name is Frank, I’m from Chicago and I’m here because I have an accent. I live out west now and it seems like people are waiting for me to say hotdog. As soon as I say it they’re like “oh, I know, you’re from Chicago!” Frank drank from the tank gave me a good laugh tho.

[@macysred]

The Chicago accent is worse then New York...it's unbearable

[@bwanadave76]

The late Dennis Farina had a great Chicago accent!

[@bwanadave76]

Also, Joe Mantegna.

[@Roadghost1969]

@@bwanadave76 Dennis Franz, and Ralph Foody (Ya, Filthy Animal) from Home Alone also .

[@Gee2deDubya]

​@@bwanadave76Dunno where he's from, his sounds more New York-ish, jmo

[@bwanadave76]

@@Gee2deDubya He was born in Old Town and was a Chicago cop for 18 years.

[@bossfan49]

No one named Noah ever came from Chicago. We have Bobs and Mikes. Maybe a Jerry.

[@juanrojas2595]

I feel like this accent is more common in older people living in the burbs.

[@Pratt_MusicRoom]

Then tell us how the younger people speak?

[@nordwestpassage]

@@Pratt_MusicRoom good point!

[@Gee2deDubya]

​@Pratt_MusicRoom Depending on which part of the 'burbs you're from, it'll arguably sound like General American English, in general.

[@alishaheed5494]

Sounds like the little gangster with the hat from bugs bunny cartoons🤣🤣

[@jeffvirkus]

Ha! I think I know who you're talking about.Little guy named Rocky I think. His sidekick was Mugsy if I recall:)

[@tractorback76]

Forgot Ts turning into Ds

[@jeffvirkus]

OMG - You're right. Thx

[@KelleyGrl5758]

As someone from the south living in Chicago, I can say I have heard people with a really thick accent; or at least that is how it sounds to me because I didn't grow up here so it's more noticible. But there are people whose accent is not as pronounced as shown in the video and only comes out with certain words.

[@angelaleehealwithcompassio6525]

My daughter was rolling listening to me trying out this accent 😂

[@jeffvirkus]

How's it coming along? Also, make sure she tries it too;)

[@Spoons7414]

You spelled Wisconsin wrong in your title

[@ascalon777]

yeah, never thought I had an accent. But listening to this more "exaggerated" one I can hear it.

[@speedlemon]

You forgot that we drop or really soften the t at the end of words.

[@SuchiththaW]

Really nice breakdown. Gonna use this for Chicago in my next audition.

[@jeffvirkus]

BOOK IT!!!

[@ruthbriggs5372]

Is Chicago near Boston? I mean, I can go and google it but some words sound a bit Mark Wahlberg-y

[@jeffvirkus]

Great question, Ruth. Good ear. Both Chicago and Boston have large Irish-American populations, and the Irish accent has had a significant influence on the regional dialects. (Ex: Dropping the "R" & vowel elongation can make "cat" sound more like "cay-ut")

[@BGTuyau]

Great to have some attention paid to the fast-disappearing Chicago accent, strongly characterized by the "Northern Cities Shift," as identified by William Labov. But how did these guys omit Cleveland from the list of cities? Only the Philly accent has more rough edges and sounds more "blue-collar." FWIW the best nationally-known Chicago accents are / were those of actors Joe Mantegna, Dennis Franz and Dennis Fariña.

[@bossfan49]

There's no tilde over the "n" in Farina. He's Italian, not Spanish. I worked with a guy from Philly once for a week. I didn't know where he was from at first. His accent sounded like "normal" midwest.... but at times with a tiny pinch of East Coast-- NY, Jersey, even Boston. I just thought he was from the area (Chicago) and that was just his individual quirky way of talking. Then on the 2nd to last day he pulled out his Eagles cap. 🤣

[@loui1889]

This helped so much! I’m British and we have a high school production of Chicago the musical and well I wasn’t able to do one before this! 😂

[@Pyoung678]

I'm trying out for the Chicago musical to! :)

[@drikfart6585]

Lol same

[@Lukagonc]

I'm doing grease now, hence why I'm here 😂

[@msmaj4895]

This is a NW Chicago accent...too much Wisconsin and Canadian influence. Moreover, its exaggerated. I grew up south side, and we talk normal, and our pizza isn't a bowl of tomato soup! Its very distinct...with a spicier (not sweet) sauce, thin cracker, shatter in your mouth crust, ingredients all protected UNDER a cheese BLEND (that's real Italian to use a BLEND- Dino Colucci said so!) AAAAAAND its cut in squares, so you can put the whole piece in your mouth! Typically, not served in a box either on the south side; served in a big ass flat bag. Dang it. Now I want a pizza.

[@bwanadave76]

Only out-of-towners eat thick crust.

[@TerryOnDemand]

I'm from Chicago and this sounds about right for the North siders. All of a sudden I feel like watching The Cubs😩🤣

[@jeffvirkus]

Go CUBS!!!

[@matthewcarey3148]

The sibboleth for a real Chicagoan is how they say Chicago: “Chi-CAH-go”? You’re from Naperville, or Iowa, or Winnetka, like Rahm Emmanuel. “Chi-CAW-go,” you’re from the city.

[@rogersteinway5680]

Try pronouncing the city's name as "Chicawgo." Listen to Dennis Franz's accent. That is real Chicagoese. You are right about the Great Lakes urban accents being similar.

[@jeffvirkus]

Great tip, Roger. Checking out Dennis Franz now. I've loved his work. Thank you

[@kerriz1543]

Yes! My mom grew up in Pilsen (or as she pronounces it : Pilzen). She always tells me that correct way to pronounce Chicago is Chicawgo. I grew up in the suburbs, but I still don’t hear the difference between the two guys pronouncing these words other than a few. One thing missing is the “th” sound which tends to drop at the end of a word: Month = “mont” or both = “boat”. This was fun!

[@dmurray1031]

I feel like pronouncing it like "Chicawgo" is distinctly northside. I grew up down on the southside and it's always "Chicahgo"

[@hiramnoone]

Franz's accent is an actor's affectation. Born and raised in Maywood, not Chicago, if you listen to his normal speaking voice, it's closer to neutral Midwestern. He does do the exaggerated Shi-Cah-goe accent a lot in his roles. It's one of the things that identifies him and makes him unique among actors.

[@rogersteinway5680]

@@hiramnoone Like Maywood is in Iowa? It is right next to Chicago and part of Chicagoland. I've heard Franz speaking in interviews and he has a Chicago accent, or at least "Great Lakes."

[@oofbruh2607]

I just watched that entire video without realizing it was the same guy till the very end im just trying to learn the accent lmfao

[@jeffvirkus]

Hope it helped, Oof Fruh

[@justicebeske5704]

I've lived in and near chicago and I didn't notice for years that there's an accent, I had to have it pointed out.

[@KaizerSozaye]

Tom Cruise? No… Ben Stiller??… nah. Adam Sandler???

[@SariennMusic73]

Im.... None of us sound like this. Nasal? Whiny? Dude sounds like he's from Fargo. This is so off for 99% of the Midwest.

[@margaretmckay1281]

I'm surprised you didnt mention the 'H' drop off like in the word three. My father says 3 as 'tree'.

[@jeffvirkus]

OMG...Great call. That's gotta be in the sequel.

[@Wihf]

Chicago accent sounds like a combination of a New York + Midwest accent

[@SyberSharkOne]

Ben stiller

[@AsdfAsdf-asdf]

hey I was raised on the nort side and I lived there for the first 41 years of my life. I think the presentation the young man does is a little over the top. more of a caricature of somebody talking Chicago.

[@quincee3376]

Awesome. Cheers from Canada. Dare Pally.

[@jeffvirkus]

Thanks for the "shout out," @quincee3376

[@hannibalspice]

Some of this is over the top for Detroit, but then some words sounded perfectly fine to me. LOL! We mostly drop our d's and g's and just kinda roun it all out, ya know? Where ya goin? Whaat ya doin? Just sayin.

[@bwanadave76]

...and Cleveland!

[@theprinceofliberia6793]

This is video explains this best and I've watched more than ten of them. 👍 thanks

[@jeffvirkus]

That's great. I hope it helped Buffalo Pete. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated

[@Banvillen]

This is was very helpful. Have to learn the accent for a production of Chicago the musical. Could you do a follow up on these accents in periods of history?

[@jeffvirkus]

First off. Congrats on the part in Chicago:) And thanks for the subscription. Great suggestion! The Chicago dialect during the Jazz Era! So much fun! It's on my list. I will try to fit in as soon as possible. When is opening night?

[@robinabrams2501]

This sounds similar to the Canadian dialect; this is absolutely fascinating!

[@StopLyingBro]

I've always said the closest thing to Chicago accent is Canadian

[@0truckmafk]

It's the Great Lakes accent. Southern Ontario is a Canadian version of the Great lakes.

[@0truckmafk]

@@StopLyingBro Minnesota is closer lol

[@StopLyingBro]

@@0truckmafk MinnesoTER

[@SyberSharkOne]

It's Adam sandler

[@Emobeefy]

I had to take a few speech classes after my family moved out of the city, I realize now I just picked up a thick Chicago accent growing up

[@jeffvirkus]

After taking speech classes are you now able to turn the accent on and off?

[@Emobeefy]

@@jeffvirkus when I was younger a bit, but now I still have “th” problems lmao but most don’t point it out cause it’s so universal if you’re from the area (am from Bridgeport area originally but now I stay about 15 minutes outside the city)

[@jeffvirkus]

@@Emobeefy I don't see the "th" issue as a problem but rather a uniquely distinct quality.😉

[@PashutHerenstein]

U didn’t say da bears

[@jeffvirkus]

Shout out kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXPRn6KklM6Nha8

[@No16EfrenTheGreat]

Hilarious and educational I love it

[@BrolyKing801]

You cant learn it you have to be from here 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 chicago people just different

[@dimviesel]

“Da Bearss”😄

[@insanemedullaoblongata3292]

Spot on 😂🤣😂you talk like you from bridgeport35th

[@jeffvirkus]

Shout out to the Southsiders!

[@moscasucio1686]

lol every neighborhood has their own accent...thats in "Advanced Chicago Accent"

[@seanrendall5495]

This feels more or less like the midwestern accent, and it's very adjacent to my native Canadian accent.

[@steamcode4441]

I never knew we had an accent

[@sarco64]

If you want to hear good examples of the Chicago accent, listen to interviews with Ann Landers or Dennis Farina. The Buffalo/Rochester/Syracuse accent is very similar. A good sentence for that accent would be "Marge drove her large car to the diner in the plaza and ordered a ham sandwich with a glass of water and a bottle of pop."

[@jeffvirkus]

Just listened to an interview with Ann Landers (aka "Eppie Lederer" - I didn't know that) and an Unsolved Mystery Episode with Dennis Farina. GREAT examples of authentic accents that I wouldn't have been exposed to if you hadn't tipped me off. Thank you so much, sarco64.

[@randythesavage1105]

Or some Dan Aykroyd

[@Burzy109]

I love Dennis Farina as an actor and for his accent. One great example of an Upstate/Western NY accent is Robert Forster. Look up an interview with him. RIP to two legends.

[@buzzsparker]

This is why everyone asks where I'm from. . . I have more than half of this and didn't even notice. I live near NYC now and people constantly ask. Damn i miss the midwest lol

[@jeffvirkus]

The accent seems to be synonymous with good values and common decency.

[@MacfrmChiraq]

Up in chiraq or at least round where i stay we all got the Ghetto Chicagoan accent it’s kinda just Ghetto but the E has like a hint of an I in it so it’s like Ghitto but still pronounce the E, the accent u taught was the wigga accent 😂 they all some white people

[@jeffvirkus]

Great tip, Mac. I will incorporate that next time I find myself in a scene taking place in the Chicago ghetto.

[@MacfrmChiraq]

@@jeffvirkus Lmfaoooo ight G

[@user-ru6mq5sc5n]

This video is overexagerated and is just a bad attempt at humor. The video of the cab driver is much more educational.

[@InkyFirefly]

for years, i was confused how someone i met in florida said i had a chicago accent cause i never thought i had an accent in general, but now i get it

[@jeffvirkus]

Ha! I think Chicagoans speak the mother language. Everyone else in the world has an accent 😉

[@user-ru6mq5sc5n]

Some people call it the great lakes accent. Think of Rob Gronkowski from Buffalo!

[@jeffvirkus]

GRONK!!!

[@MrBlackbass59]

This applies only to white Chicagoans. The Blacks from Chicago sound like southerners, to me.

[@jeffvirkus]

Ah. Thank you for pointing this out.

[@barbaratheillustrator02484]

dude needs to be wearing a Blackhawks jersey!!

[@mojojojo3411]

Bro, I am from Chicago and I'm finally realizing why none of the phone robots can never understand what the f*** I'm saying. I KNEW i had a fucked up accent 😭

[@jeffvirkus]

🤣😂😅 Mojojojo. Your accent is golden. It's the phone robots who are F'd up and need to adapt.

[@whitephoenixfire88]

I feel like this is the white guy accent from the suburbs born in 1950-1970. Everything after that isn't gonna have as much UPPER Wisconsite/ Canadian.

[@jeffvirkus]

TY Jillian. I really appreciate that. On my next trip to Chicago it will be nice to have something specific to listen for:)❤

[@valentine_puppy]

It's the shortening of some of those vowels that make them sound rude. Like they couldn't care for anything in the world other than what they want or are doing. You? Forget about it.

[@jeffvirkus]

Think of the shortening as a more efficient use of time.

[@juliefarano2299]

I'm from Chicago and when I moved out to the suburbs they asked me where my accent came from, and I said what accent, and it's funny I tell my kids to put something in the front room, and they asked me what's a front troom.

[@HurricaneCamille-us6mp]

That's the funniest comment I've ever read. I'm from Chicago and have live in multiple states. Everyone looks at me crazy when I say "Frunch" room.😂😂

[@bossfan49]

Look in the frunchroom and see if I left the grotchky in there.

[@18184432]

He looks like Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise

[@autumnleaves4206]

Like Peter Griffin? Lol

[@jeffvirkus]

FUN FACT: Peter Griffin was actually inspired by a Rhode Island local who worked as a security guard at a School of Design.

[@bossfan49]

For actors with the accent... listen to Dennis Farina, Dennis Franz, ...or for a milder effect- Amy Madigan, Bill Murray, Brian Doyle Murray, Jami Gertz... or the 2 Chicago Police Detectives in The Fugitive (1993).

[@jeffvirkus]

Great Call! Thanks @bossfan49

[@bossfan49]

@@jeffvirkus Another commenter mentioned Joe Mantegna. I totally forgot about Joe. Early in his career, he wrote a play about Chicago Cubs fans called Bleacher Bums. He, Franz, Farina and George Wendt were all cast members!

[@perrseb5772]

I should have watched this video BEFORE my actual trip in Chicago! I tought I lost my english! 😅

[@jeffvirkus]

Dat’s what happens in Chi-town. Ya didn't lose nuthin'. Ya just expanded yer versatility. Yer a real chameleon, ya know?"

[@perrseb5772]

@@jeffvirkus hahaha! Just today my understanding is better since I looked at your video!

[@thirdvisiongarage9148]

Fuckin a Noah that’s a nice stache there my guy

[@jeffvirkus]

Thanks, Tedmon. I like to think it rivals Tom Selleck's Magnum PI stache

[@ZenaLoreace]

Born and raised in Chicago and Yup that’s a real Chicago accent!

[@jeffvirkus]

Good lookin’ out, Zevay. Means a lot comin' from a true native. 'Perciate it.

[@TheFlyingSailorYT]

Almost sounds like a Minneapolis resident... just add a little Minnesotan accent seasoning, and you got the Minneapolitan sub-dialect.

[@jeffvirkus]

It seems like every few miles you travel in the Great Lakes Region you get a slightly different variation. All very unique and distinct and fun to try and mimic.

[@spike_spiegel7711]

idk what you're talkin about this is just standard american english /s

[@jeffvirkus]

If Illonois was one of the original colonies and the American Revolutionary War was fought in Chicago, perhaps that would be the case. Thanks for the comment, Spike 👍

[@17Mongooseman]

Thank you, 1990's Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise mashup :)

[@jeffvirkus]

Our pleasure:)

[@maureencora1]

I was Made in Chicago, IL. (southside)

[@jeffvirkus]

Shout out to Stony Island Arts Bank. Go SOX!

[@maureencora1]

@@jeffvirkus Touche' (smile)

[@Danny-ki6ud]

"frunch room"

[@bossfan49]

Zackly! and don't lose the grotchky. (garage key)

[@bluey1188]

Bro they the same person???💀

[@jeffvirkus]

Yes they are

[@Sandirah]

It also took me looking at the comments to realize this 😂

[@brianwestmoreland3836]

So basically since I have to have a thick Chicago accent and I'm from Northwest Indiana. I have to rewrite my own sides to match this

[@deanwantland9464]

maybe mentioned before but "stillmill" ie. my dad worked at the stillmill.

[@jeffvirkus]

Classic Chicago right dere. Rill ossum:)

[@yitzchakepstein2142]

I love how you're looking at yourself talking

[@jeffvirkus]

Ha! It takes some getting used to.

[@Pratt_MusicRoom]

Is the Chicago accent similar to the New York or Boston accent?

[@bwanadave76]

No.

[@amandaschelonka6838]

Here to hear the sounds of my people.

[@jeffvirkus]

And such a beautifully distinct accent ♥

[@omfgCantGetaUsername]

I gotta random news recommendation recently for a recent fire in Chicagoland area at a chemical plant out there. And the news reporter lady had this accent. It's crazy normally news ppl have a standard American accent. Chicago kinda sounds general American until u get the nasally flatness. My xbox friend sounds exactly like this. Lol

[@FSonic-r4i]

St. Louis accent

[@sjdmd89]

I think the word "dollar" is very telling. I noticed on the show "The Bear" which is supposed to be in Chicago, a character pronounced the work "dollar" like he was from California :p

[@jeffvirkus]

Should have paid a few extra DAH-lurs to hire an authentic Chicago actor:)

[@bossfan49]

I think most of the cast is from New York. Same deal with the lead actor on Chicago PD...which is why I can't watch it.