Southern American English
Germanic
Southern American English is the regional dialect of the U.S. South, characterized by the Southern drawl (vowel breaking and diphthongization), the pin-pen merger before nasals, monophthongization of /aɪ/ to [aː], extensive use of 'y'all' and 'fixin' to', and grammatical features such as the double modal ('might could'). It is the substrate of African American Vernacular English and a major influence on Country and Blues music traditions.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Southern American English
Sources
- Thomas, Erik R. 2004, "Rural Southern white accents", in Kortmann & Schneider (eds.), A Handbook of Varieties of English vol. 1, Mouton de Gruyter, 300–324; Labov, Ash & Boberg 2006, Atlas of North American English; en.wikipedia "Southern American English"; en.wiktionary accent label "Southern US"
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Germanic
| Meaning | Southern American English | Appalachian English | African American English | English | Canadian English | West Country English | American English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | water /ˈwɔːɾɚ/ | water /ˈwɔːɾɚ/ | water /ˈwɑːɾɚ/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwɑɾɚ/ | water /ˈwɔːtɚ/ | water /ˈwɔɾɚ/ |
| Fire | fire /faːɹ/ | fire /faːɚ/ | fire /faːɚ/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /ˈfaɪɚ/ | fire /faɪɚ/ | fire /ˈfaɪɚ/ |
| Sun | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ |
| Moon | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /mun/ |
| Star | star /stɑːɹ/ | star /stɑːɹ/ | star /stɑː/ | star /stɑːɹ/ | star /stɑɹ/ | star /stɑːɹ/ | star /stɑɹ/ |
| Night | night /naːt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /nʌɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ |
| Rain | rain /ɹæɪn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ |
| Snow | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ |
| Wind | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /waɪnd/ | wind /wɪn/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ |
| Earth | earth /ɝθ/ | earth /ɝθ/ | earth /ɝθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɝθ/ | earth /ɝθ/ | earth /ɝθ/ |
| Stone | stone /stoʊn/ | stone /stoʊn/ | stone /stoʊn/ | stone /stoʊn/ | stone /stoʊn/ | stone /stəʊn/ | stone /stoʊn/ |
| Mountain | mountain /ˈmæʊntn̩/ | mountain /ˈmaːʊntn̩/ | mountain /ˈmaʊʔn̩/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ | mountain /ˈmaʊnʔn̩/ |
| Sea | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /si/ |
| Mother | mother /ˈmʌðɚ/ | mother /ˈmʌðɚ/ | mama /ˈmɑːmə/ | mother /ˈmʌðə/ | mother /ˈmʌðɚ/ | mother /ˈmʌðɚ/ | mother /ˈmʌðɚ/ |
| Father | father /ˈfɑːðɚ/ | father /ˈfɑːðɚ/ | daddy /ˈdæɾi/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfɑðɚ/ | father /ˈvɑːðɚ/ | father /ˈfɑðɚ/ |
| Daughter | daughter /ˈdɔːɾɚ/ | daughter /ˈdɔːɾɚ/ | daughter /ˈdɑːɾɚ/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɑɾɚ/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtɚ/ | daughter /ˈdɔɾɚ/ |
| I | I /aː/ | I /aː/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ |
| You | you /juː/ | you /juː/ | you /ju/ | you /juː/ | you /ju/ | you /juː/ | you /ju/ |
| We | we /wi/ | we /wi/ | we /wi/ | we /wiː/ | we /wi/ | we /wiː/ | we /wi/ |
| Name | name /næɪm/ | name /neɪm/ | name /neɪm/ | name /neɪm/ | name /neɪm/ | name /neɪm/ | name /neɪm/ |
| Person | person /ˈpɝsən/ | person /ˈpɝsn̩/ | person /ˈpɝsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɝsən/ | person /ˈpɝsən/ | person /ˈpɝsən/ |
| Head | head /hɛəd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ |
| Eye | eye /aː/ | eye /aː/ | eye /aː/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ |
| Ear | ear /ɪɚ/ | ear /ɪɚ/ | ear /ɪɹ/ | ear /ɪɚ/ | ear /ɪɹ/ | ear /ɪɚ/ | ear /ɪɹ/ |
| Nose | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /nəʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ |
| Mouth | mouth /mæʊθ/ | mouth /maːʊθ/ | mouth /maʊf/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /mʌʊθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ |
| Tooth | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːf/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuθ/ |
| Tongue | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ |
| Hand | hand /hæːənd/ | hand /hænd/ | hand /hæːnd/ | hand /hænd/ | hand /hænd/ | hand /hand/ | hand /hænd/ |
| Foot | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ |
| Heart | heart /hɑːɹt/ | heart /hɑːɹt/ | heart /hɑːɹt/ | heart /hɑːt/ | heart /hɑɹt/ | heart /hɑːɹt/ | heart /hɑɹt/ |
| Bone | bone /boʊn/ | bone /boʊn/ | bone /boʊn/ | bone /boʊn/ | bone /boʊn/ | bone /bəʊn/ | bone /boʊn/ |
| Blood | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ |
| Poop | poop /puːp/ | poop /puːp/ | poop /puːp/ | poop /puːp/ | poop /puːp/ | poo /puː/ | poop /puːp/ |
| Love | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ |
| Tree | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹi/ |
| Dog | dog /dɔːɡ/ | dog /dɑːɡ/ | dog /dɔːɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɑɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɔɡ/ |
| Cat | cat /kæːt/ | cat /kæt/ | cat /kæt/ | cat /kæt/ | cat /kæt/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kæt/ |
| Fish | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ |
| Bird | bird /bɝd/ | bird /bɝd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːɹd/ | bird /bɝd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɝd/ |
| Butterfly | butterfly /ˈbʌɾɚflaː/ | butterfly /ˈbʌɾɚflaː/ | butterfly /ˈbʌɾɚflaː/ | butterfly /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌɾɚflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌtɚflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌɾɚflaɪ/ |
| Egg | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | bear /bɛɹ/ | bear /bɛɹ/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛɹ/ | bear /bɛɹ/ | bear /bɛɹ/ |
| Horse | horse /hɔɹs/ | horse /hɔːɹs/ | horse /hɔːɹs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔɹs/ | horse /hɔːɹs/ | horse /hɔɹs/ |
| House | house /hæʊs/ | house /haːʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /hʌʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /haʊs/ |
| Milk | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ |
| Honey | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ |
| Salt | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɑlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔlt/ |
| Wine | wine /waːn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ |
| Rice | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹʌɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ |
| Chocolate | chocolate /ˈtʃɑːklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɑːklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɔklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɑklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɑklət/ |
| Iron | iron /aːɹn/ | iron /aːɚn/ | iron /aːɚn/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /ˈaɪɚn/ | iron /ˈaɪɚn/ | iron /ˈaɪɚn/ |
| Wheel | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wil/ |
| Silk | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ |
| Book | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ |
| Eat | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /it/ |
| Drink | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ |
| Sleep | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ |
| One | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ |
| Two | two /tuː/ | two /tuː/ | two /tu/ | two /tuː/ | two /tu/ | two /tuː/ | two /tu/ |
| Three | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /fɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹi/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹi/ |
| Four | four /fɔːɹ/ | four /fɔːɹ/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔːɹ/ | four /fɔɹ/ | four /fɔːɹ/ | four /fɔɹ/ |
| Five | five /faːv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ |
| Hundred | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ |
| Hello | howdy /ˈhaʊdi/ | howdy /ˈhaːdi/ | what's up /wʌts ʌp/ | hello /həˈləʊ/ | hello /həˈloʊ/ | hello /hɛˈloʊ/ | hello /həˈloʊ/ |
| Thank you | thanks /θæːŋks/ | thanks /θæŋks/ | thanks /θæŋks/ | thank you /θæŋk juː/ | thank you /θæŋk juː/ | thanks /θaŋks/ | thank you /θæŋk ju/ |
| Good | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ |
| New | new /nuː/ | new /nuː/ | new /nu/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /nu/ |
| Red | red /ɹɛəd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ |
| White | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /wʌɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ |
| Black | black /blæːk/ | black /blæk/ | black /blæk/ | black /blæk/ | black /blæk/ | black /blak/ | black /blæk/ |
| Green | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹin/ |
| Blue | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /blu/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /blu/ |
| Cuckoo | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkuku/ |
| Woof | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ |
| Cock-a-doodle-doo | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɑːkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɑːkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɔːkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɑkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɑkəˌdudəlˈdu/ |
| Computer | computer /kəmˈpjuːɾɚ/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːɾɚ/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːɾə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtɚ/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtɚ/ | computer /kəmˈpjutɚ/ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi /ˈwaːfaː/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaː/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ |
| Sushi | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ |
| Tea | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ |
| Coffee | coffee /ˈkɔːfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔːfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɑfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ |
| Sugar | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɚ/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɚ/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɚ/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɚ/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɚ/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɚ/ |
| Orange | orange /ˈɔːɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔːɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ |
| Ninety-nine | ninety-nine /ˈnaːnti ˈnaːn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ |
| Dopamine | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəˌmin/ |
| At sign | at /æːt/ | at /æt/ | at /æt/ | at /æt/ | at /æt/ | at /at/ | at /æt/ |
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