Hear "Just"in a Southern Accent

Southerners often smooth out just so it slides easier in speech. You’ll hear it as juh-uhst /dʒʌ̈əst/ ~ /dʒʌ̈ɪst/ - with a gentle vowel glide - or even dhu-ust /dʒə̈st/ ~ /dʑə̈st/, where the "j" softens and the "st" gets blurred. Play the clip to hear both in real Southern speech, then practice with our tips and sentences.

#SouthernAccents #CommonFunctionWords

Variations

Outside the city, it's almost thust/dust. /dʒə̈st/ ~ /dʑə̈st/

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Start with a soft "juh," almost like you’re saying "duh," then slide gently into "uhst." Don’t over-pronounce the "t" - it often disappears or sounds like a soft "d." That’s how "just" turns into "juh-uhst" or "dhu-ust."

Kin Topics

Common Function Words

Common Questions

Why does "just" sometimes sound like "thist" or "dhu-ust"?

The softening of consonants and vowel glides in Southern and Appalachian speech make "just" flow more easily. James Whitcomb Riley captured that same feel in dialect writing like Little Orphant Annie.

Do Southerners drop the "t"?

Often! It’s softened or disappears, especially in quick speech - more like "juh-uhs" than "just."

How can I practice?

Say "just" slowly, then ease up on the "t" and round the middle vowel a little. You’ll feel it smooth into "juh-uhst."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 8). Just. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/just
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Just." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/just.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Just." HillbillySlang.com. October 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/just.

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.