Hear Tell

In Appalachian & Southern speech, "hear tell" (or "heard tell") means to hear news, rumors, or reports about something. It’s a traditional regional way of passing along information that isn’t firsthand.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern

synonyms: rumor

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I can vividly remember my Momma saying, 'well, I've heard tell...' - but she always used it coyly, like she wasn't sure. 'I hear tell we might be havin' your favorite pizza tonight.'

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I can vividly remember my Momma saying, 'well, I've heard tell...' - but she always used it coyly, like she wasn't sure. 'I hear tell we might be havin' your favorite pizza tonight.'

Pronunciation

HEE-yur TAY-yuhl
/ˈhiː.jɚ ˈteɪ.jəl/

Meaning & Usage

- To hear news or to receive information secondhand (verb phrase)

Mae:

I hear tell they’re reopenin’ the old mill.

Earl:

Well, that’d be somethin’.

- To repeat a rumor or common report

Earl:

I heard tell she won the pie contest again.

Mae:

Nobody’s surprised.

variations: heard tell

★ "Hear tell" carries a tone of front-porch storytelling - not gossip exactly, just the way news travels in tight-knit communities. ★

Origin and Etymology

Widely documented in Appalachia and the broader American South from the 19th century onward, with roots in older British English constructions meaning "to hear it said." Dialect surveys and regional dictionaries place its strongest usage in the Southern Highlands, the Smokies, the Ozarks, and the rural South.

Usage Notes

Still very common in Appalachian and rural Southern speech, especially among older speakers, storytellers, and anyone passing along community information. Variants include "I hear tell," "I heard tell," "you hear tell," and "folks tell." Non-Southerners may recognize the phrase but rarely use it themselves.

Used when information is secondhand or community-circulated.
Often appears in storytelling, local news, and family talk.
"Heard tell" may be pronounced "heared tell."
Not typically used in formal writing, except for dialect representation.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "hear tell" mean the same as "I heard"?

Close, but not identical - it specifically signals secondhand or community-passed news.

Is it used outside the South?

Rarely. Most Americans recognize it but don’t say it.

Is it considered old-fashioned?

A bit, but it’s still actively used in Appalachia and much of the rural South.

Is it always about rumor?

Not necessarily - it can be true information, just not firsthand.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 27). Hear Tell. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hear-tell
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Hear Tell." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hear-tell.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Hear Tell." HillbillySlang.com. November 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hear-tell.