Hear "House"in a Southern Accent

Across the Inland and Mountain South - from Kentucky down through Tennessee, Alabama, and into Texas - house often stretches into two gentle parts. You’ll hear it as ha-yohs /hæ.joʊs/ ~ /ha.joʊs/ with a light glide or as ha-yows /hæ.jaʊs/ ~ /ha.jaʊs/ when the vowel opens a bit more. Both keep a crisp final s and that friendly Southern lift.

#SouthernAccents #TravelandLocation

Variations

As you move out into the country. [ha-yows] /hæ.jaʊs/ ~ /ha.jaʊs/ - fuller glide, pretty much two syllables, like "ha-yows."

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Start with a short "ha" (as in happy), then glide smoothly into "yohs" or "yows." Keep the transition relaxed, like you’re smiling while you say it. The slower you go, the warmer it sounds.

Kin Topics

Travel and Location

Common Questions

Why does "house" sound stretched in Southern speech?

Southerners often widen the vowel and add a slight glide - a hallmark of the drawl that gives words more melody and space.

Which version is more common?

"Ha-yohs" shows up in lighter accents, while "ha-yows" appears deeper in the country and hills. Both are firmly rhotic.

How can I practice?

Say "house" slowly and listen for that middle glide - the sound between the "ha" and "s." That’s where the drawl lives.

How to Cite This Page

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

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.