Weegies are known to be hard to understand for visitors, and as the thickest accent in Scotland. We cut our words, use unique slang like “swally” and “scunnered” and some of us are even known for switching accents in our “talking to English people” voice to be understood. Well, Preply has done a new study on the fastest talking cities in the UK, with Glasgow, unsurprisingly, coming second.
The study analysed ten of the most populated cities in the UK, looking into YouTube video transcripts from local news stations, including radio. Overall, people in the UK say 189 words per minute on average, proving we do love to talk.
Fastest talking cities in the UK
Leicester beat Glasgow as the fastest talking city in the UK, averaging 254.8 words per minute. For example, Leicester City’s YouTube channel regarding all things football had a HUGE 716.00 words spoken per minute on their video about Abdul Fatawu Joining Leicester City. Wow, now that’s just pure excitement! However, BBC Radio Leicester took it down a notch with Andy Pierce’s interview with the band Courthouse averaging 180.40 words per minute.
Glasgow is the UK’s second fastest talking city, with 218.13 words per minute spoken on average. Football has proven to be where all the fast talkers are, with Celtic FC’s exclusive interview with Matt O’Riley recorded as 398.50 words per minute. Still, that’s one speedy interview! Go Radio also picks up the pace, with 224.75 words per minute, while the hosts at Pure Radio Scotland take it a wee bit slower with 123.67 words a minute.
The third quickest speaking city in the UK is Liverpool with 210.39 words per minute in their daily conversations, while Bristol came fourth with 195.15 words on average.
What is more, London was the fifth fastest speaking city in the UK with 192.98 words per minute, just above the national average.
Slowest talking cities in the UK
Averaging 132.27 words per minute, Edinburgh is officially the slowest talking city in the UK. Edinburghers are not as excited about football when they speak, a the official YouTube channel for Edinburgh City Football Club, Edinburgh City TV, had the slowest speaking hosts, being steady and easy-to-follow at 83.54 words per minute.
Birmingham is ninth on the list with 164.21 words per minute, while Leeds is the third slowest talking city in the UK coming eighth on the list with an average of 173.94 words. Finally, Sheffield was seventh on the fastest speaking cities ranking, with locals taking time with their conversations and talking 174.72 words per minute.