   Hear "House"in a Southern AccentAcross the Inland and Mountain South - from Kentucky down through Tennessee, Alabama, and into Texas - house often stretches into two gentle parts. You’ll hear it as ha-yohs /hæ.joʊs/ ~ /ha.joʊs/ with a light glide or as ha-yows /hæ.jaʊs/ ~ /ha.jaʊs/ when the vowel opens a bit more. Both keep a crisp final s and that friendly Southern lift. VariationsAs you move out into the country. [ha-yows] /hæ.jaʊs/ ~ /ha.jaʊs/ - fuller glide, pretty much two syllables, like "ha-yows." 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. | ...
About Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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... |
Start with a short "ha" (as in happy), then glide smoothly into "yohs" or "yows." Keep the transition relaxed, like you’re smiling while you say it. The slower you go, the warmer it sounds.