TikTok video has New Jersey natives and New Yorkers alike gushing over the two-year-old's distinct accent
Words like "chocolate," "coffee" or even "water" may not seem all that interesting — unless they're spoken by a two-year-old in a strong New Jersey accent.
New Jersey native Elaina Christina, a 24-year-old content creator, has gone viral after she posted a video of her young niece, Giavanna (Gia for short), on her TikTok account.
Now, Gia has been welcomed with open arms by many New Jersey and New York residents because of her strong, adorable accent.
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Elaina Christina said that she didn't realize how distinct her own accent was until later in life.
"It never even occurred to me until I went to college, and I was meeting a lot of other diverse people, and then they were like, ‘Oh my gosh. Where are you from?’" she said (requesting that her last name be omitted for privacy) to Fox News Digital.
@imelainachristina she was raised RIGHT. & for the record it was very hard for me to say these words without my own accent 😂 #fyp #newjersey #newyork #italianamerican #babytok #babiesoftiktok ♬ original sound - The Elaina Show
Even though people mentioned it or called her out for her own accent, she never felt ashamed or self-conscious, she said.
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"It's my roots. It's who I am as a person. I'm proud to say that I'm Italian-American," she added.
"That's where my family's from. I'm proud to have this accent."
Elaina Christina (left) and her niece Gia (on the right) have gone viral after two-year-old Gia showed off her strong New Jersey accent. (Elaina Christina)
Gia spends most of her days with her aunt and her grandparents, who also have strong Jersey vocal utterances and mannerisms.
The young girl is starting to pick up the family's unique Jersey qualities and her aunt said she couldn't be prouder.
It all started when Gia asked Christina for a piece of chocolate — and it sounded more like the word "chawcolate," said Christina.
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While Elaina was more than amused by her niece's pronunciation, she wasn't entirely surprised.
"She's in the same environment as us, but you don't think that a baby would have an accent, you know?"
Elaina recorded a TikTok video of her niece saying words like "chocolate" and "water" — and social media users couldn't help but laugh after hearing the thick accent of the young girl. (Elaina Christina)
Gia's mom is also a New Jersey native and Gia's father is from Brooklyn — so she's surrounded by strong intonations.
"[Kids] are like sponges," Elaina said. "What you feed into a child is the most important thing."
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Elaina said she did not realize just how humorous the accent was until around Christmas, when she posted the first video of Gia pronouncing certain words.
The video has so far garnered 18.7 million views on TikTok and at least 2 million on Instagram.
@imelainachristina our 2 year old star saying sentences with her NJ italian american family!! for the record- this was stated in the best standard american dialect i can possibly do. im aware i have an accent but I tried my best to show the contrast! #fyp #newyork #newjersey #italianamerican #babytok #babiesoftiktok ♬ original sound - The Elaina Show
"The cutest Jersey accent I’ve ever heard," one user commented on TikTok.
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"She a Joursey Gurl," another person wrote.
Gia, age 2 (right), is Elaina's sister's daughter. The pair share a special bond and a heavy New Jersey accent. (Elaina Christina)
"She sounds like a baby version of you ... I can tell you all have the same accent," another user commented.
Elaina said she's been "overwhelmed" by the response of viewers who loved to see their state represented.
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"The pride that I saw from New York and New Jersey people like me can actually bring tears to my eyes," Elaina said.
"No one's going to tear her down. She's the first niece and granddaughter [of] an Italian-American family — we're strong as anything."
"I take so much pride in the state. I really do because it's where I grew up, and it's just a major part of my personality."
Elaina said she hopes her niece will feel the same pride in her Italian-American heritage.
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The aunt wants that positive mindset to start now, which is why every morning, young Gia will look in the mirror and say, "I'm gorgeous," in the strongest Jersey accent.
Elaina Christina hopes her niece's accent is something she will be proud of and embrace as part of her New Jersey roots. (Elaina Christina)
"No one's going to tear her down. She's the first niece and granddaughter [of] an Italian-American family — we're strong as anything," Elaina said.
"We're going to instill in her that ‘this is who you are and feel proud of it.’ So I'm excited for her," she said.
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Sydney Borchers is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital.
