They 
In Appalachian and Southern mountain speech, "they" is often used in place of "there." It’s a regional pronunciation that became part of local grammar-heard in phrases like "right they," "over they," or "they it is."
They
synonyms: there, over there, yonder
Hillbilly Dude Says...
So you'll hear 'they' used often instead of there. You'll also hear ''ere.' 'They' is rarely the last word, it's everwhere else. 'They wuttin none in 'ere' is a great example that transalted to "there wasn't any in there." Hillbilly Dude Says...
So you'll hear 'they' used often instead of there. You'll also hear ''ere.' 'They' is rarely the last word, it's everwhere else. 'They wuttin none in 'ere' is a great example that transalted to "there wasn't any in there." Pronunciation
[THEY]
/ðeɪ/
/ðeɪ/
Meaning & Usage
- Used instead of "there" (adverb / pronoun)
Kid:
Where’s my hat?
Where’s my hat?
Mama:
Right they on the peg.
Right they on the peg.variations: thar they, thay
Origin and Etymology
From an older English vowel shift where "there" came to sound like "they." The pattern survived in Appalachian and South Midland speech, carried by settlers from the British Isles and preserved in mountain talk for centuries.
Usage Notes
Still heard across Appalachia and the rural South. Not considered incorrect locally-it’s just how folks talk.
- "It’s right they." → "It’s right there."
- "Set it they by the stove." → "Set it there by the stove."
- Common in eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, and western North Carolina.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). They. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/they
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "They." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/they.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "They." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/they.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...