The Internets

The internets is a Southernish phrase used humorously to mean the internet, especially when making fun of misinformation or old-fashioned tech confusion. It’s modern, ironic, and playful-sounding rural, but rooted in pop culture.

#Southernish

synonyms: the web, the interwebs, online, the net, computer machine

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard, 'I seen it on the internets.' I'm not sure if people are saying it to be funny or not.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard, 'I seen it on the internets.' I'm not sure if people are saying it to be funny or not.

Pronunciation

[thuh IN-ter-nets]
/ðə ˈɪntɚˌnɛts/

Meaning & Usage

- Humorous plural of "internet" (ironic or rural tone)

Raylene:

You sure that’s real?

Bobby:

Course it is-I read it on the internets.

variations: interwebs

Origin

"The internets" entered popular speech in the early 2000s after President George W. Bush used the plural form in a televised debate. The slip became an internet meme and shorthand for portraying someone as out of touch or old-fashioned with technology.

The phrase took on a *Southernish* flavor because Bush’s Texas accent and phrasing fit familiar rural speech patterns. Over time, people began using "the internets" playfully in the same rhythm as Southern or hillbilly humor-mocking confusion about modern gadgets or online life.

Verdict: Southernish. Not truly Southern dialect, but widely used with a tongue-in-cheek, country tone.

Notes

Used humorously to sound out-of-touch or "country tech."
Popular online meme language since the early 2000s.
Sometimes written as "them internets" or "the interwebs."
Best fits modern humor with rural or self-deprecating tone.

Common Questions

What does "the internets" mean?

It means the internet-used jokingly or ironically to sound old-fashioned or out of touch.

Is it really Southern?

No. It’s used everywhere, but it sounds Southern because of the slow, plural rhythm and rural stereotype humor.

Who started it?

It became famous after George W. Bush’s plural use of "the internets" in a 2000s debate.

Why is it funny?

It exaggerates confusion about technology, poking fun at people who treat the web like a mysterious machine.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 15). The Internets. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/the-internets
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "The Internets." HillbillySlang.com, 15 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/the-internets.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "The Internets." HillbillySlang.com. November 15, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/the-internets.