   Hear "Airport"in a Southern AccentAcross the South, airport keeps its two syllables but softens the middle, letting the vowels glide and open. You’ll often hear ay-uhr-po-urht /ˈeəɹ.pɔɹt/ ~ /ˈɛɚ.pɔɹt/ in lighter speech, or a deeper urh-po-urht /ˈɚ.pɔɚt/ ~ /ˈɜɹ.pɔɹt/ out in the country - both smooth, relaxed, and rhotic. VariationsAs you move out into the country. [urh-po-urht] /ˈɚ.pɔɚt/ ~ /ˈɜɹ.pɔɹt/ - more grounded vowel, "port" nearly two syllables, still keeps the R strong. Say It Like a Southerner
Regional NoteSouthern accents vary widely from state to state and even holler to holler. The examples here reflect speech patterns common to rural Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, western North Carolina, north Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas, and aren't meant to represent lowland or coastal "Deep South" varieties. Nor are the examples perfect - accents can be hyper-regional. They're provided for curious learners, actors and content creators, and ESL speakers who want a friendly introduction to authentic pronunciation. Learn more on the Southern Accent hub page. | ...
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Start wide on "ay" or "uhr," keep the R present but soft, and let the vowels roll together - almost like one long breath. Southerners stretch "air" into a glide and give "port" a touch of warmth.