   Hear "There"in a Southern AccentSoutherners 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. Variations1) 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
Regional NoteSouthern 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. | ...
About Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more... |
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.