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Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearin' 'acrosst,' and it does make the rounds on occassion. I could say either way. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearin' 'acrosst,' and it does make the rounds on occassion. I could say either way. 

Pronunciation

[uh-KRAWST]

Meaning & Usage

- On the other side, from one side to the other (preposition/adverb)

Mae:
Where’s the store?
Earl:
Right acrosst the bridge.

- Opposite or directly over from (preposition)

Mae:
She lives acrosst from the post office.
variations: acrost, acrossed, across’t
★ The "-t" at the end of "across" is one of those speech habits that stuck in Appalachia and the South. It’s the same pattern you’ll hear in "oncet" (once) and "twicet" (twice). ★

Origin and Etymology

From Middle English *acros* (from *a-* + *cros*). The added "-t" sound appeared in spoken English centuries ago. While most regions dropped it, Appalachian and Southern speech preserved it as "acrosst" and its variants.

Usage Notes

Very common in Appalachia and the South, especially in rural communities. Rare outside these regions, where the "-t" ending is often considered nonstandard.

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Said plain: "uh-krawst." The added "-t" sound comes in quick at the end.

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is "acrosst" a real word?
It’s a regional form of "across." Not standard English, but very real in Appalachian and Southern speech.
Why do people add the "-t"?
It’s a natural speech drift, similar to "oncet" or "twicet."
Do people still say it today?
Yes - especially older generations, though you’ll still hear it in younger speakers in Appalachia and the South.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 13). Acrosst. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/acrosst
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Acrosst." HillbillySlang.com, 13 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/acrosst.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Acrosst." HillbillySlang.com. September 13, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/acrosst.
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