   Hear "M"in a Southern AccentUs Southerners don’t always say the letter M the way the unhillbillies do. You’ll often hear it as eh-yum /ɛjəm/ ~ /ɛm/ - a glide that’s not quite two syllables - or stretched into eh-uhm /ɛ.əm/ ~ /ɛʊm/ in slower speech. Play the clip to hear it in real Southern speech, then practice with our tips. VariationsAs you move further out into the country, closer to two syllables. /ɛ.əm/ ~ /ɛʊm/ 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... |
Start with a light "eh" vowel, glide into "yuh" or "uh," and close with the "m." Keep it quick for the short form or stretch it out for the longer form. Repeat until it feels natural or matches our audio clip.