In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Granny" is a common word for grandmother. It can also mean an older woman in the community, especially a midwife or folk healer known as a "granny woman."
- An older woman, often respected (noun, cultural use)
In the community
Mae:
Granny Hester was the midwife for half the valley.
★ "Granny" is both family and cultural - it means your own grandmother, but also echoes the role of older women who guided, healed, and taught in Appalachian communities. ★
Origin and Etymology
From "grandmother," clipped to "granny." In rural Scots-Irish and English dialects, "granny" was already common, and Appalachian settlers carried it on. It remains one of the most enduring grandmother titles in the South.
Usage Notes
Still common across Appalachia and the South. Outsiders may see it as old-fashioned, but for mountain families it’s affectionate and alive.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "gran-ee." Sometimes stretched a little softer: "grann-ee."
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...
I feel like it's 50/50 with 'Granny' and '