The way humans acquire language in early childhood is fascinating. Babies don't need formal lessons—they learn by listening, watching, and picking up on patterns through repetition, context, facial expressions, and body language.
But learning to talk isn’t just about forming words. It’s about mastering communication within a social setting, from mimicking slang to adopting accents. That’s why even two people who speak the same language can sound completely different depending on where they’re from.
Nowhere is this more evident than in a viral video of a baby in Liverpool having a full-on “conversation” with her caregiver—gibberish and all.
The clip, shared by @iamcustardpot on TikTok, shows a woman lying on a bed chatting with a baby named Orla, who seems determined to stay awake. As the woman gently explains that she’s been fed, changed, and it’s time to sleep, Orla responds in 99% nonsense—but with a distinct Scouse (Liverpool) accent.
Watch the adorable exchange:
🎥 @iamcustardpot
“Cutie patoooootie!! #scousetiktok #fyp”
https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcustardpot/video/7382717696263114016?lang=en
People couldn’t get over how clearly the accent came through, even though Orla wasn’t using real words.
💬 “A baby Scouse accent is killing me 😭😭”
💬 “Bro mastered the Scouse accent but no words 👏😂”
💬 “Scouse accent with no actual words is elite.”
One commenter even pointed out, “For anyone wondering why she’s got a Scouse accent, babies mimic intonation and sounds before they learn words 😁”—and they’re absolutely right.
Babies Pick Up Accents Before They Can Even Speak
Child development expert Dan Wuori weighed in, explaining that this video perfectly illustrates how babies absorb language patterns long before forming coherent sentences.
“Do babies develop accents before they can actually speak? The short answer is yes… and it happens sooner than you might think,” Wuori shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He explained that even before the babbling stage, newborns display linguistic preferences. Studies have shown that babies as young as a few hours old can distinguish and prefer the sounds of their native language.
Even more mind-blowing? Babies cry with an accent.
“One major study showed that French babies tend to cry with a rising intonation, while German infants favor a falling melody—both reflecting the patterns of their native languages. This shows that language learning begins in utero, making the prenatal to age-three period the most critical window in human development.”
Orla’s viral moment is a sweet and hilarious reminder of how babies absorb everything around them—even regional accents—before they can say a single proper word.
And if you can’t get enough of her Scouse babbles, you’re in luck! She now has her own TikTok page, Orlasworld, where you can follow her adorable language journey as it evolves into real words and sentences.