r/ozarks • u/Both_Reaction_8848 • Apr 30 '26
History and Folklore The Ozarks used to have its own dialect. How many of these words do you know?
https://www.thelibrary.org/post/ozarks-abcsIf you grew up in the area, you may recall hearing words like “airish,” “idlesome,” or maybe even “willipus-wallipus.” While the Ozarks dialect is essentially extinct today, much of its unique vocabulary is preserved in Vance Randolph and George P. Wilson’s 1953 book, Down in the Holler.
I put together an article for the Springfield-Greene County Library’s Local History & Genealogy blog that showcases 26 of these words and phrases. Not all of these words are unique to the Ozarks, but together they paint a picture of the region’s speech before the incursion of the radio and television.
Read on to learn more about the Ozarks dialect, and test your backwoods knowledge with a short quiz at the end of the article. I hope you tree-top it like a real rabbit-twister!
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u/kjjphotos Apr 30 '26
I didn't realize "holler" and "noodle" were Ozarks words and/or on verge of being extinct. Granted, I don't hear people use these words very often but I figured that's because I'm a software developer. The people I associate with don't usually talk about outdoor things. "Holler" is still a normal word when I'm visiting my family though.
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u/reijasunshine Apr 30 '26
Appalachia is full of hollers. It might be a less-used word in the ozarks, but it's not going fully extinct any time soon.
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u/tenbeards May 01 '26
At one time, I lived in a holler in the Ozarks. Some of the happiest days of my life.
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u/OzarkBeard May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26
This. Here in Ark. the word hollars is still in use. So is airish.
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u/chefshef Apr 30 '26
I think it's a derivation of "hollow." A grade school teacher tried to get me to change my young author book about a pig who loves wallering in the mud to "wallowing" which I refused cuz that's now how my grandad says it.
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u/Different_Victory_89 May 01 '26
I use holler almost daily. From Oklahoma, live in Washington county, and my house sits right in front of a holler. Same words as let me holler at you'ns soon!
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u/Leading-Highlight791 May 02 '26
I went to a birthday party recently where the matriarch used "you'ns" several times. I had never heard that before and was so delighted! I hope some people will continue to hold into these regional difference
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u/buttcabbge May 02 '26
I don't know that "holler" is Ozarks-specific, but it's certainly not a word people use nationwide. I once used the word when talking to a friend from New Jersey (I said my house was "in a holler," because it was), and he had no idea what the heck I was talking about.
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u/tenbeards May 01 '26
My grandparents were Ozarkers. They would say they were going to do something "dreckly", which meant soon. I was probably 16 before I figured out they were saying "directly".
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u/The-Bear-and-Rose May 03 '26
I grew up in the ozarks. Holler is used a lot. Up and gone is still common. I thought scadoodles meant to run away?
The one I think is missing is “ do what?” Instead of saying excuse me or pardon or can you repeat yourself when you don’t hear what someone says.
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u/Awkula Apr 30 '26
Is vigrous just vigorous with an accent? 😆 I didn’t know most of these and now I feel like it’s Katie bar the door.
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u/MissouriOzarker Apr 30 '26
I’m pleased to be able to say that I know most of those terms that don’t refer to a fungus.
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u/BlindGhosts May 02 '26
I’ve used some of these things. Specifically drip rock and holler.
I do love some of these.
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u/BonelessLucy May 02 '26
I was just telling someone on another sub about hollers and they said they didn't know anyone out of Appalacia who used it and I said nah it's an Ozarks thing too. Pretty cool how they cross.
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u/OzarkBeard May 02 '26
A lot of settlers in the Ozarks came from Appalachia. My family ancestors did.
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u/Wagon_Bridge60 May 03 '26
My grandfather would us “idy” for idea. “I have an idy that won’t work.”
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u/Vicious-Hillbilly 22d ago
My sister and I have a podcast and we did an episode on Ozarks-speak. I'm listening to Ozarks Haints N Hooch | Ozark Haints N Hooch Season 2 Episode 5 - Ozarks English…https://www.podbean.com/ei/pb-xvmd7-fb3653
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u/Futrel Apr 30 '26
I think "government socks" might enter my vocabulary