Hear "Him"in a Southern Accent

Southerners often soften and stretch him into an easy glide. Instead of the tight "him," you’ll hear HIH-um /hɪ.əm/ in one smooth syllable or the fuller HEE-yuhm /hi.jəm/, where the vowel opens into a gentle two-part drawl.

#SouthernAccents #Pronouns

Variations

What you'll hear as you move out into the country - HEE-yuhm - a stronger Southern glide, almost two syllables, with a bright opening. /hi.jəm/

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio For "HIH-um," keep it one syllable - soften the "him" and let it fall into a tiny offglide. For "HEE-yuhm," brighten the opening and let it slide naturally into "-yuhm." Neither should feel forced.

Kin Topics

Pronouns

Common Questions

Is "HIH-um" one syllable or two?

One syllable with a small offglide. It may sound stretched, but Southerners keep it as a single unit.

Where do people say "HEE-yuhm"?

It’s common in deeper Southern drawl regions and among older speakers in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Appalachia.

Which pronunciation is more common?

"HIH-um" is more widespread day-to-day, but "HEE-yuhm" is a well-attested regional drawl.

Why does "him" glide like that?

The vowel relaxes and opens, creating room for a natural Southern diphthong or triphthong.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 16). Him. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/him
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Him." HillbillySlang.com, 16 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/him.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Him." HillbillySlang.com. November 16, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/him.

Regional Note

Southern 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.

advertisement...