   Hear "Asheville"in a Southern AccentIn Western North Carolina, Asheville gets a twist that only locals truly nail. You’ll hear a-yesh-vulh /ˈæ.jɛʃ.vʊl/ ~ /ˈæ.jɛʃ.vəl/ among mountain folks - quick, soft, and easy - while visitors and transplants tend to stretch it to a-yesh-vi-yuhl /ˈæ.jɛʃ.vi.jʊl/ ~ /ˈæ.jɛʃ.vijəl/ when they’re trying to sound it out clearly. Both keep the same rhythm, but the local version rolls off faster and warmer. VariationsAs you talk to non-hillbillies. [a-yesh-vi-yuhl] /ˈæ.jɛʃ.vi.jʊl/ ~ /ˈæ.jɛʃ.vijəl/ - a little slower, every syllable clear. 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 with "a-yesh," letting the middle breathe, then clip the ending just a bit. Locals tend to swallow the last vowel - "vulh" instead of "ville." Outsiders pronounce each syllable cleanly, but either way, the accent tells you where you’re from.