That There 
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "that there" means that (with emphasis). It’s a folksy, attention-pointing phrase used to highlight a specific person, object, or direction.
Pronunciation
[THAT thair]
/ðæt ðɛəɹ/
[atd-air]
/ðæt ðɛəɹ/ · /æt̪ d̪ɛəɹ/
/ðæt ðɛəɹ/
[atd-air]
/ðæt ðɛəɹ/ · /æt̪ d̪ɛəɹ/
Meaning & Usage
- Emphatic or attention-drawing "that" (adjective phrase)
Estel:
Earl:
That there blue'un.
That there blue'un.variations: that there, that-there
★ "That there" works just like "this here" - it doesn’t change the meaning, it just adds a little country emphasis and helps point something out clearly. ★
Origin and Etymology
From nonstandard English brought over by early settlers and kept alive in rural American dialects. In Southern and Appalachian speech, the pattern "this here / that there" became a natural emphatic structure used in everyday talk.
Usage Notes
Common in Southern and Appalachian homes, farms, and small towns. Rare in formal English, but immediately recognizable as down-home, conversational speech. Often paired with "this here" for contrast.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "that thair." In quick country speech it can soften to "that-’ere."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 20). That There. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/that-there
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "That There." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/that-there.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "That There." HillbillySlang.com. November 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/that-there.
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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...