Hear "There"in a Southern Accent

Southerners often give there a long, easy glide instead of a flat "thair." You’ll hear it as theh-yur /ðeəɹ/ ~ /ðɛəɹ/, ay-uhr /eəɹ/ ~ /ɛɚ/, thah-uhr /ðɑɚ/ ~ /ðaɹ/, or even a soft thuhr /ðɚ/ ~ /ðɜɹ/ - each one drawn out just enough to sound warm and familiar. Play the clip to hear how it rolls in real Southern speech.

#SouthernAccents #CommonFunctionWords

Variations

1) This is how you'd normally here it, clipped at the front. /eəɹ/ ~ /ɛɚ/

2) A little bit more country. /ðɑɚ/ ~ /ðaɹ/

3) Mountain talk. /ðɚ/ ~ /ðɜɹ/

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Soften the "th," open the vowel just a bit, and let it slide into "uhr." Don’t rush the glide - "there" in the South almost sings. Each version works depending on where you’re from and how easy you want it to sound.

Kin Topics

Common Function Words

Common Questions

Why does "there" sound longer in a Southern accent?

Southerners often stretch the vowel and let it glide, giving the word that relaxed, musical flow common to the region.

Which version is most common?

"Theh-yur" and "thah-uhr" are probably the most widespread across Appalachia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, but you’ll hear all of them.

How can I practice?

Say "there," but slow it down. Let the middle of the word breathe - that’s where the drawl lives. Try alternating "here" and "there" until the rhythm feels natural.

How to Cite This Page

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

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.