Real

In Southern and Appalachian speech, real means "really" or "very," used to add emphasis before adjectives or adverbs.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Measurements #Southern

synonyms: really, very, mighty, awful

Hillbilly Dude Says...

We use this one 'real, real' often.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

We use this one 'real, real' often.

Pronunciation

[REE-yul] ~ [RIL]
/ɹɪəl/ ~ /ɹɪl/

Meaning & Usage

- Really; Very (adverb)

Martha:

That pie’s real good, ain’t it?

Cliff:

It sure is. I’m real glad you made two of ’em.

★ When a Southerner says something’s "real good," they mean it. Adding "real" makes it heartfelt - not lazy grammar. ★

Origin and Etymology

The adverbial use of real in place of "really" dates back to at least the 1800s in American English. It is especially common in Southern, Appalachian, and Midland dialects, reflecting natural speech economy and rhythm. The pattern likely spread from Scots-Irish settlers’ influence and remains widespread in rural and colloquial English.

Usage Notes

Using real as an adverb is considered informal but is deeply rooted in regional grammar. Speakers across the South, Appalachia, and Midwest use it naturally in conversation. It appears most often before adjectives ("real good," "real tired") and less often before adverbs ("real fast"), though both are accepted in dialect speech.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "real" instead of "really" grammatically wrong?

Not in regional or colloquial English. It’s a well-established form that’s natural in spoken Southern and Appalachian dialects.

Where did this usage come from?

It grew out of older British and Scots-Irish speech patterns that simplified "really" to "real," brought to the American South by early settlers.

Do people still say it today?

Absolutely. You’ll hear "real good," "real bad," and "real pretty" every day across much of the South and Appalachia.

How to Cite This Page

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

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