In Appalachian and Southern speech, "hemhaw" means to hesitate, stall, or beat around the bush without getting to the point. It’s the regional form of the older national phrase "hem and haw."
We say 'hemhawin’' when somebody's draggin' their feet on somethin'. Not quite like lolligaggin'.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We say 'hemhawin’' when somebody's draggin' their feet on somethin'. Not quite like lolligaggin'.
Pronunciation
[HEM-haw]
Meaning & Usage
- To hesitate or stall before speaking or deciding (verb)
Asking for an answer
Mae:
Well, are you comin’ or not?
Earl:
I don’t know"
Mae:
Don’t just hemhaw around - say yes or no!
- To avoid getting to the point (verb)
After a long story
Mae:
He hemhawed around for ten minutes before he ever told me the price.
variations: stall, hesitate, beat around the bush, dawdle, drag feet, waste time, won’t spit it out
★ "Hemhaw" almost always carries a tone of impatience - the speaker wants someone to quit stalling and get on with it. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the older English phrase "hem and haw," which mimicked the sounds of hesitation. In Appalachia and the South, it got slurred together into the simpler, sharper "hemhaw."
Usage Notes
Common throughout the South and Appalachia, especially in rural speech. Outside these regions, most people still say "hem and haw," but they understand "hemhaw" when they hear it.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "hem-haw." Often drawn out as "hemhawin’" when describing someone hesitating.
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...
We say 'hemhawin’' when somebody's draggin' their feet on somethin'. Not quite like lolligaggin'. 
