Sooey!

"Sooey!" is a long, drawn-out call used to summon pigs. In Appalachian and Southern farm life, it was a daily sound on hog farms and still survives as a playful holler.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I remember 'Sooey!' mainly from Johnny Cash. When our hogs get loose, I'd rather holler, 'enjoy your new home!' This one doesn't have the opportunity to be an everday one.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I remember 'Sooey!' mainly from Johnny Cash. When our hogs get loose, I'd rather holler, 'enjoy your new home!' This one doesn't have the opportunity to be an everday one.

Pronunciation

[SOO-ee] → drawn out: "Soooo-eeee!"

Meaning & Usage

- Call to summon pigs (exclamation)

Mae:

Sooey! Time to feed!

Earl:

Here they come, gruntin’ and squealin’.

- Playful shout (secondary, modern use)

Mae:

Sooey! That was a good hit!

Earl:

Sounds like you’re callin’ the hogs.

variations: soo-ee su-ee pig call hog call hog holler sow call come pig, pig

★ It’s not just random - hogs respond to high-pitched sounds, and "sooey" carries across a farmyard. That’s why the call stuck for generations. ★

Origin and Etymology

Likely from the word "sow" (a female pig), with the "-ee" added to make a long, carrying call. Hog farmers in the South and Appalachia used it daily to round up swine, and it spread into wider American culture as a symbol of country life.

Usage Notes

Still recognized in Appalachian and Southern talk, though less used on real farms today. "Sooey" lives on in playful hollers, sports chants, and as a symbol of rural heritage.

Say It Like a Southerner

Stretch the first syllable, then snap the "ee": "Soooo-eeee!"

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Do pigs really come to "sooey"?

Yes - hogs learn to associate it with feeding time, and the sound carries well.

Is "sooey" unique to Appalachia?

Not only Appalachia - it’s found across the South and Midwest, but is a strong marker of farm and country talk.

Do people still use it today?

On farms less often, but it survives as a playful or nostalgic holler - and famously in chants like "Wooo Pig Sooie!" at Arkansas ball games.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 26). Sooey!. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sooey
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sooey!." HillbillySlang.com, 26 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sooey.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Sooey!." HillbillySlang.com. August 26, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sooey.

advertisement...