Hear "Knoxville"in a Southern Accent

Southerners tend to smooth Knoxville into a warm, easy glide - never the crisp "NOX-vill" you hear elsewhere. You’ll hear it as NAH-cks-vuhl /ˈnɑks.vəl/ or the softer, more local nahck-vi-yuhl /ˈnɑk.vi.jəl/, both of which round the vowels and relax the final syllable.

#SouthernAccents #TravelandLocation

Variations

If you're talking to an outsider (in the hopes they understand): nahcks-vi-yuhl /ˈnɑks.vi.jəl/

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Start with a broad "NAH," keep the "cks" quick and light, and then let the ending fall into a soft "vuhl" or "vi-yuhl." East Tennesseans rarely jab the second syllable - it eases out more than it pops.

Kin Topics

Travel and Location

Common Questions

Which version do locals in Knoxville use?

"NAH-cks-vuhl" is the most common among lifelong locals, though "nahck-vi-yuhl" appears in softer rural or multigenerational speech.

Is "NOX-vill" wrong?

Not wrong - just not Southern. The clipped vowel and sharp ending are more common outside the region.

Why does the ending sound like "vuhl"?

Many Southern accents reduce unstressed syllables, softening "-ville" into "-vuhl," "-v’l," or even "-yuhl."

Does the drawl show up in every syllable?

Typically just the first. Most Tennesseans widen "NAH" slightly and smooth the rest.

How to Cite This Page

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

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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