Listen At

In Southern and Appalachian speech, listen at is a dialect phrase meaning "listen to" or "pay attention to what I’m about to say." It works as an attention-getter before sharing news, a story, or a surprising detail.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: listen to this, listen up

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard 'listen at this' all my life, and still do - especially out in the country.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard 'listen at this' all my life, and still do - especially out in the country.

Pronunciation

[LISS-en at]
/ˈlɪsən æt/

Meaning & Usage

- To direct attention to what someone is about to say (verb phrase)

Clyde:

You heard about that raccoon in the sweet corn?

Ruby:

No"?

Clyde:

Listen at this - he opened the freezer!

variations: listen at this, listen at it, listening at it

★ Folks use listen at to kick off a story - the more dramatic the tale, the more drawn-out the "listen." ★

Origin and Etymology

This phrasing likely developed from a regional tendency to shift or simplify prepositions in casual speech. In Southern and Appalachian English, listen at emerged as a natural substitute for "listen to" in spoken language. While uncommon in standard English, the structure fits longstanding speech patterns in the region.

Usage Notes

Common in informal speech across parts of the South and Appalachia, especially when leading into gossip, funny stories, or surprising news. Variants frequently heard include:

Listen at this - attention-getter before speaking
Listen at it - calling attention to a sound or behavior
Listening at it - progressive form ("I’m over here listening at it")

Often used in lively conversation and storytelling rather than in formal writing.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is listen at incorrect English?

It’s nonstandard, but perfectly natural in Southern and Appalachian speech.

Does it always introduce a story?

Usually - though it can also refer to listening to a sound ("Listen at that owl!").

Is it used today?

Yes, especially in rural areas and family conversation - it adds a dash of excitement before the big reveal.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 29). Listen At. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/listen-at
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Listen At." HillbillySlang.com, 29 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/listen-at.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Listen At." HillbillySlang.com. October 29, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/listen-at.

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