Hear "My"in a Southern Accent
Us Southerners don’t always say my with the same crisp sound as the unhillbillies. You’ll often hear it softened or stretched to mah or mahh /mɑː/ or /mɑ/, especially in a slow drawl. Play the clip to hear how it sounds in real Southern speech, then - if you're up for a challenge - practice it yourself with our tips and sentences.
Variations
The way it's normally spoken in the middle of a sentence. /mə/
Example Audio in Sentences
1) "'Hey hey hey hey hey... That's my butter." Translates to "Excuse me. That butter belongs to me." /mɑ/
2) "'My bum hip is botherin' me today." Translates to "My hip hurts a little today." /mə/
Say It Like a Southerner
Listen to our audio clip a few times, focusing on the "mah" sound, then repeat until it feels natural or matches our audio clip.
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.