they's
They are; also often "there is" or "there are" in mountain talk.
Also called they're, there's.
Updated September 24, 2026
they's pronunciation
/THAYZ/
Meaning
They's can mean they are, same as "they're" with a country twist: "They's already at the store." In Appalachian and Ozark speech it also does the job of there's: "They's a deer in the garden." Same sound, two common jobs. Context tells you which one landed.
How folks use it
- “They's fixing to leave before dark.”
- “They's a big hole in that back tire.”
Origin and etymology
Partly a contraction of they is / they are, with the leveled is/'s that shows up a lot in Southern mountain grammar. Linguists also track "expletive they," where they stands in for there in sentences like "They's a creek up yonder," possibly with Scots roots. Both uses stuck hard in Appalachian and related rural talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is they's the same as they're?
Sometimes yes. Sometimes it means there's. Listen for whether somebody is talking about people or pointing out that something exists.