Hear "Car"in a Southern Accent

In many Inland Southern areas (rural KY, AR, TN, western NC, north GA, AL, MS, OK, and TX), car stays rhotic (hard R) while the vowel opens and may glide slightly. You’ll hear it as cah-ehr /kɑɚ/ ~ /kɑəɹ/ - a soft glide that’s not quite two syllables - or a more drawn-out cah-ehr /kɑ.ɚ/ ~ /kɑ.eɹ/ that almost makes two full beats. In both, the R is firmly pronounced. This sound is classic Highland / Interior Southern speech.

#SouthernAccents #TravelandLocation

Variations

As you move out into the country. [cah-ehr] /kɑ.ɚ/ ~ /kɑ.eɹ/ - fuller glide, pretty much two syllables (still hard R).

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Open the vowel toward ah (as in father), allow a light glide, then land on a fully pronounced R. Do not drop the R; let the center of the word breathe.

Kin Topics

Travel and Location

Common Questions

Is this the same as Boston "cah"?

No. Boston is typically non-rhotic (drops the R). Inland Southern keeps a hard R; the distinction is the opened, slightly gliding vowel.

Where is this most typical?

Rural Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, western North Carolina, northern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas (excluding lowlands and coastal regions).

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 15). Car. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/car
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Car." HillbillySlang.com, 15 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/car.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Car." HillbillySlang.com. October 15, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southern-accent/car.

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.