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How is a dialect different from an accent?

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Thematic map of Europe displaying the distribution of Germanic languages, with different colors indicating regions where English, German, Netherlandic (Dutch), Frisian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese are spoken. Striped areas mark regions where bilingualism is common, and language regions cover countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and parts of surrounding countries. — Dialect Distribution of the Germanic languages in Europe.

While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation, they refer to distinct linguistic concepts. A dialect is a variety of a language distinguished primarily by its grammar (morphology and syntax) and vocabulary, often signaling a speaker's geographic, social, or occupational background.1

In contrast, an accent refers specifically to the sound system of a language, including phonological features such as vowels, consonants, and intonation. While some linguists include these sound patterns within the broader definition of a dialect, standard practice treats them as aspects of accent.1

Additionally, in phonetics, the term "accent" can also refer to the prominence of a specific syllable within an utterance, which may be realized through variations in pitch, loudness, or length. Ultimately, while dialects involve structural differences in how a language is built, accents focus on the distinct ways in which that language is pronounced.21