Dice
 
 
 
 
 
synonyms: tomatoes, tomato
Hillbilly Dude Says...
It depends on the person and location - some always say 'maters' - some to be silly a little bit. But it's common. When I worked at the movies, I got in trouble for puttin' 'Fried Green Maters' on the marquee. But we were out of letters. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
It depends on the person and location - some always say 'maters' - some to be silly a little bit. But it's common. When I worked at the movies, I got in trouble for puttin' 'Fried Green Maters' on the marquee. But we were out of letters. 

Pronunciation

[MAY-ters]
/ˈmeɪtərz/

Meaning & Usage

- Tomatoes; the tomato harvest (plural noun)

Mae:
You want some fresh maters for supper?
Earl:
Slice ’em thick with a little salt-can’t beat it.
variations: ’maters, maters, tomaters, ’mater, mater
★ Dialects often drop or smooth syllables: "to-mat-oes" becomes "maters," just like "po-ta-toes" becomes "taters." Same garden, fewer syllables. ★

Origin and Etymology

The form developed through natural phonetic reduction in regional American English, especially in the South and Appalachia: the initial unstressed syllable in "tomatoes" is dropped or weakened, and the remaining vowels are smoothed. Written examples appear in regional storytelling, farm writing, and market speech by the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Usage Notes

  • Frequent in informal speech tied to gardening, canning, and cooking; rare in formal writing.
  • Often appears with other reduced produce words (e.g., "taters and maters").
  • Both apostrophized (’maters) and plain (maters) spellings occur; the plain form improves readability and searchability.
  • Singular forms (’mater / mater) appear in the same contexts: "a ripe ’mater."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is "maters" just a joke spelling?
No. It reflects a real regional pronunciation used naturally in farm and kitchen talk.
How should I spell it on a sign or menu?
"Maters" is clear and readable; "’maters" signals dialect more strongly but can be harder to scan.
Is it still used today?
Yes, especially among gardeners, market vendors, and families who can or cook with homegrown produce.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 18). Maters. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/maters
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Maters." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/maters.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Maters." HillbillySlang.com. October 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/maters.
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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...
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