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Hear "Interstate"in a Southern Accent

Southerners often smooth interstate into an easy, rolling glide - never the clipped "IN-ter-state" you hear elsewhere. It commonly starts with an "ee-yun" sound, giving you ee-yun-urh-stay-eet /ˈiː.jən.ər.steɪt/, with a softened middle and a widened final vowel.

#SouthernAccents   #TravelandLocation

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Start with a bright "ee," glide into "-yun," soften the middle to "urh," and let "state" open into "stay-eet." Keep the word smooth from start to finish - no sharp breaks.

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Common Questions

Why does "interstate" begin with "ee-yun" in Southern speech?
Many upper-Southern and Appalachian speakers front the vowel and add a slight glide, making "in-" sound like "ee-yun." It’s natural and widely used.
What makes the ending sound like "stay-eet"?
The diphthong widens in Southern speech, creating a stretched but still one-syllable final vowel.
Is this really how locals say it?
Very much so - especially in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Southwest Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.
Does the drawl make the word longer?
Slightly. The glide in "ee-yun" and the widened "-eet" give it more musicality without adding true syllables.

How to Cite This Page

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

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.

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