Irish accent - sexiest in the world

[faceless]

There's some good news this morning for our readers from the Emerald Isle: their Irish brogue has topped a poll of 5,000 women worldwide to emerge as the world's sexiest accent. The result of the www.OnePoll.com survey demonstrated that our sweet-talking Irish cousins boast the most mellifluous tones, pipping the smooth-talking Italians into second place. The "Scottish burr" was honoured in third spot, thanks to the likes of Sean Connery, the Telegraph explains, rather than Rab C. Nesbitt.

A spokesman for OnePoll said: "It is good news for the Irish that they have come top. They have been in and around the top five for years now. But high-profile stars such as Colin Farrell have helped bring the accent more to the fore."

French, meanwhile, has fallen from grace somewhat, demoted to fourth position. The spokesman agreeably explained: "The French accent is nowhere near as popular as it used to be. You can probably blame Nicolas Sarkozy for that, he has single-handedly changed the perception of how the world sees French men."

Of course, you're all wondering how our beloved English accent fared against strong international competition. Sixth place is the answer, after the seductive Aussie lilt.

Here's the full top ten:

1.Irish
2.Italian
3.Scottish
4.French
5.Australian
6.English
7.Swedish
8.Spanish
9.Welsh
10.American

For the record, OnePoll's probe "also found three fifths of women admitted they had been seduced by someone purely because of their accent, while two fifths said they would much rather sleep with a man who had a nice accent, compared to a harsh one". South Africans have our sympathy. ®

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I really need to move somewhere where my accent isn't the norm!

[SpursFan1902]

I agree whole heartedly with the comments about the Irish accent...I think the Italian and French accents are listed too high..they always sound cheesy and smarmy to me.

I am surprised at the positioning of the American accent...I wonder which one they mean? I was in a bar dispute because someone didn't like my accent and I don't really have a strong regional accent of any kind. I live in the South, but West Central Florida is not really the South...everyone is from somewhere else here. I hail from the MidWest (Chicago) but wasn't there long enough for an accent to still be apparent, so I don't really have a strong offensive accent, but this guy took offense to an American being in his pub, so off it went. I am just surprised because I have never heard anyone say that they like the American accent like they do English, Irish, Scottish, Australian, ect...

[luke]

thats an interesting point about accents spurs, i mean there isn't really an english accent, theres loads of regional variations. mine is a kinda mix of west and london, london mates can hear the west, west mates can hear the london

are there variations of the scottish accent faceless? i'd guess there would be ...

[faceless]

there's loads of variation up here - Ayrshire is only about 20 miles away and their accent is really different. and then 20 miles east you get the Edinburgh twang, and then you've got Aberdeen, the Highlands, the Western Isles and then the Orcadians and Shetlanders too.

They're a' sheepshaggers of course! haha

[SpursFan1902]

I guess as an outsider, while I can tell the difference in English accents (no so with Irish or Scottish) and recognize London from Manchester from Sheffield, ect, they all sound good to me, albiet sometimes unintelligible. In comparison, American accents don't all sound good. Very strong New York accents are like nails on a chalkboard for me and a strong Southern accent, while not annoying, unfortunately signals stupidity and inbreeding, whether it is true or not. I am sure there are those connotations in all countries, it is just that I am blissfully unaware of most of them in the UK...I guess that was what prompted some to vote for American accent.

[pirtybirdy]

Pirtybirdy<----------nails on a chalkboard.

[SpursFan1902]

Oh, Pirty, I didn't mean you, silly goose! I just ment in general....

[faceless]

you tawwkin to me?

haha

[SpursFan1902]

Thats the accent!

[reject]

Aw well thats another hardship i shall have to put up with.....

as someone jealously texted me earlier I RISH I WAS IRISH

[SpursFan1902]

We all have our crosses to bear, reject.

One of the reps that handles my season tickets for our local professional hockey team is Irish. I never pick up the phone when he calls...I always let him leave message and then I call him back...those messages never get erased! Tee Hee...