Hear "M"in a Southern Accent

Us Southerners don’t always say the letter M the way the unhillbillies do. You’ll often hear it as eh-yum /ɛjəm/ ~ /ɛm/ - a glide that’s not quite two syllables - or stretched into eh-uhm /ɛ.əm/ ~ /ɛʊm/ in slower speech. Play the clip to hear it in real Southern speech, then practice with our tips.

#SouthernAccents

Variations

As you move further out into the country, closer to two syllables. /ɛ.əm/ ~ /ɛʊm/

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Start with a light "eh" vowel, glide into "yuh" or "uh," and close with the "m." Keep it quick for the short form or stretch it out for the longer form. Repeat until it feels natural or matches our audio clip.

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Common Questions

How do Southerners usually pronounce the letter "M"?

In casual speech it’s often a short glide, like "eh-yum." In slower or more careful speech, you may hear "eh-uhm," closer to two syllables.

Is one more Southern than the other?

Both occur naturally. The shorter form is more common in fast talk; the longer one in careful or emphatic speech.

How can I practice?

Start with "em," then let it glide into "eh-yum" or "eh-uhm." Say it slowly at first, then speed up.

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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