Scouse

Scouse (/skaʊs/ skowss), formally known as Liverpool English or Merseyside English, is an English accent and dialect associated with the city of Liverpool and the surrounding Merseyside area. Scouse is highly distinctive and bears little resemblance to other English accents, primarily due to the port of Liverpool, which saw the arrival of Irish and Welsh immigrants and was a popular stop for Scandinavian sailors.

People from Liverpool are formally known as Liverpudlians but are more widely called Scousers, a name derived from scouse, a stew that originated from the Scandinavian lobscouse and was eaten by sailors and locals. Since the 1950s, Liverpool's development has spread its accent into nearby areas such as the towns of Runcorn and Skelmersdale. Variations of Scouse have also been noted within the city: the more recent and widely known accent of the city centre and northern districts is usually described as fast, harsh, and nasal, whilst the older "Beatles-like" accent found in the southern suburbs is typically described as dark, slow, and soft.

Popular colloquialisms have shown a growing deviation from the Lancashire dialect previously found in Liverpool, as well as the increasing influence of Scouse in the wider area. Scouse is sometimes harsh and difficult to understand; however, it is often ranked first or second on lists of British accents that people perceive as happy and friendly.