   Hear "What"in a Southern AccentUs Southerners don’t always say what the way the unhillbillies do. You’ll often hear it slide into wah-ut /wʌjət/ ~ /wɑjət/ - one syllable that almost feels like two - or even wah-ot /wɑ.oʊt/ ~ /wɑ.ɒt/, which is pretty much two syllables. Play the clips to hear each one in real Southern speech, then practice with our tips and sentences. Variations1) A little further out in the country. /wɑ.oʊt/ ~ /wɑ.ɒt/ 2) Regional close to "whut". /wʌjət/ ~ /wɑjət/ 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... |
Listen to each clip a few times. Start with a soft "wah" sound, glide into "uh" or "ot" before finishing with the "t." Wah-ut stays closer to one syllable, wah-ot stretches into two. Repeat until it feels natural or matches our audio clip.