International SOs, how do people react?

[kteire]

I'm curious to see what other people have experienced!
I'm wondering for those of you that have an SO who has an accent different from your own, or has a different first language: Do people react to your SO's accent? And do you mind it?

Now that I'm in the UK and every other person I meet is Irish, no one comments on my SO's accent. When he'd visit me in Canada, however, he'd get loads of attention. The most hilarious was when I had picked him up at the airport, and we stopped for fast food on the drive home. The girl taking his order was rather unpleasant, but as soon as he started talking, she broke out into a massive grin, turned bright red, and kept giggling incessantly! And while we sat and ate, she kept looking over at him and turning red.

I generally find it funny to see the reactions, Canadians love their Irish accents it seems! The only time it really annoys me is when women give him lots of attention and glare at me... awkward!

Any fun stories??

[snow_girl]

Whenever I tell anyone my SO is english the first thing they say is "Oh he must have an accent!" Yea duh! Or along the lines of them loving english accents but no one has ever said anything to us together.

[lademoiselle]

The last time I went to France, on three separate occasions in one day people (French natives, that is) who overheard my SO speaking addressed him in English, thinking he was from the UK! He was so incredibly happy about it He does have a pretty good accent though; if you were born in England you'd be able to tell he's foreign because of the slight nuances in pronounciation, but to even his American friends his British accent sounds genuine. As a perfectionist, that pleases him very much.

[digitalfever]

I only hear it when he says 'Really?" and I think it's so cute I always have to copy him.

[DollOnAMusicBox]

The first time My SO came out here his accent did get a few o.o sort of faces. The funniest time was when we were in line at the grocery store, just chit chatting. When it was our turn to get rung up the casheer greeted us with his own (very poor) british accent. My SO Just sort of looked at him and then back at me, continuing our conversation. The cahsieer turned bright red because he thought my SO was just goofing around in the checkout line...but he was legit. The cashieer was just like "have a good day" (with no accent) and didnt look at us again. XD

[Dziubka]

There's too many Polish people in Germany for anyone to react on us speaking Polish together. Sometimes people ask if we're from Russia or say spasiba (thank you in Russian - no idea what's the correct English transliteration) and it pisses my boyfriend off endlessly.
I think he has an adorable accent, when he speaks German but foreign accents are so common that other people don't even really pay attention.

Apparently I speak Polish well enough for people not to realize I'm a foreigner right away, so we don't get any random comments in Poland either.

We're boring *yawn*

[squeeker]

When I was in the UK, I'm naturally really quiet so I didn't speak much except to my SO but no one really said anything. He hasn't been here yet but when I tell people my boyfriend's from the UK they usually say a variation of "wow, that's pretty far away" and they also ask if he has a nice british accent.

[lucybelle]

Nah, no one ever says anything. I guess it's considered rude or uneducated to go "OH MY GOSH YOU HAVE A SPANISH ACCENT!" Where maybe for English accents or Irish or Scottish or some other english-speaking accent, it's more acceptable. I know I'd be a little hurt if I'm trying to speak a new language and someone points out how strong my accent is.

[lala]

the funny thing was when I went to Canada people of course heard a bit of my German accent.. (it's not that bad). They were fascinating by me talking. I think the most what amazed them was that I'm from Europe lol

[Manoek]

Me:
The funny responses I got when I stepped in to my SO's world was: "Your English is really good, does everyone in Holland can speak it that well?"
(We do get a lot of english at school, but I've been to the states 5 times, and always loved the language!)

I really don't want to brag, but I think my English is pretty good, in writing and in speach. Of course the American's can hear my dutch accent,.. but they all think it's cute.. Barf.. this is kinda stupid to write about myself hahaha.. I hate my voice though! Anyway... when I speak english here on the phone at work, people always say that I talk English with an American accent instead of a English accent, and we learn "English" at school, the whole "Would you like a cup of tea" thing

SO:
I think my SO has the most sexy American accent in the world! And some of my friends talked to him and also thought so hahaha. So when he (ever) comes over, I can't wait how my world will respond to him. Because Americans are 'unreal' for most people here, its what you see on tv

[LoveJ]

My SO has a sexy light southern accent that I adore, but it's not immediately obvious. He didn't get any big reactions while he was here in Canada. I wish he had though, just so I would have even more reasons to show him off

[MeganK]

my SO is english and not many ppl said anything about it here in tennessee
they looked at him, confused like they didnt know if they heard right,
when i was in england alot of ppl would stare at me and ask why i was in england
i had one nasty lady be just so rude to me and it made me angry,
but i just ingored her and didnt say anything to her.

[13000km]

All of my friends in Singapore speaks English as their first language, and automatically Americanize their accents as soon as they see he's white. Or they start to sound more British (because of all the British TV). But changing our accent so that people from other countries can understand us better is pretty much normal in Singapore.

For me, here in the US, everytime someone finds out I'm an international student they respond with "Wow! Your English is so good!" I've learnt to just say thankyou rather than explaining that my first language IN SCHOOL and I've been speaking/reading/writing in English for all the years I've been educated.

[kiara_silver]

I haven't been there yet, so can't comment on my side. But when he was here his accent did get noticed. I don't notice it as much any more, and didn't really when he was here only with certain words, but everyone loved his british accent lol. I loved when my cousins asked him why he has a accent, and he tried explaining to them, everyone has a accent. His reply was "so we talk like you?" lol Then I guess my nana found it hard to understand him. He got asked a ton of questions when he was here though, and once when we were out eating, my mom was talking and telling people about my british bf I guess, idk but one of the cooks came out just to say hi and meet him.