They’s
In Southern and Appalachian speech, they’s means "there is" or "there are", used in casual or dialectal contexts. It functions as a nonstandard contraction replacing standard English "there’s."
Out in the country, you're bound to hear 'they's' instead of 'there are'. Out in the country, you're bound to hear 'they's' instead of 'there are'. Pronunciation
/ðeɪz/
Meaning & Usage
- To indicate that something exists or is present (nonstandard verb phrase)
They’s a storm brewin’.And they’s cows who ain’t ready for it.Origin and Etymology
They’s developed from the earlier dialect phrase "they is," which historically appeared in Southern and Appalachian English as part of subject-verb leveling. Over time, it came to function like "there’s," getting used for both singular and plural subjects. It reflects a long-standing pattern in the region: using one form to cover multiple grammatical cases in spoken language.
Usage Notes
They’s often replaces there’s in conversation, even when referring to plural nouns. While considered nonstandard, it remains a recognizable trait of Southern and Appalachian dialect - especially among older speakers and in informal settings. The form is rarely seen in edited writing, but is common in oral storytelling and dialogue.
- Singular: "They’s a possum on the porch."
- Plural: "They’s biscuits in the oven."