Sorry

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "sorry" often means pitiful, lazy, or worthless - not apologetic. It’s used to judge a person, animal, crop, or situation as no ’count.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern #ScoldingandTeasing #Euphemisms

Hillbilly Dude Says...

When we say somebody’s sorry around here, we don’t mean they’re apologizin’. We mean they’re no ’count - lazy, pitiful, or just plain sorry.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

When we say somebody’s sorry around here, we don’t mean they’re apologizin’. We mean they’re no ’count - lazy, pitiful, or just plain sorry.

Pronunciation

[SAWR-ee] → often quick: [SOR-ee]

Meaning & Usage

- Worthless, pitiful (adjective)

Mae:

That’s a sorry excuse for a truck.

Earl:

Yep, no ’count thing won’t run half the time.

- Lazy or no-account (adjective)

Ruby:

He’s a sorry feller - won’t lift a finger to help.

Mae:

Ain’t never been worth much.

variations: sorry, no ’count, sorriest

★ When a mountain person calls something "sorry," it’s not pity - it’s a sharp judgment. Best avoided unless you mean it. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Old English *sār* (sore, painful). By the 1500s, "sorry" meant wretched or pitiful. In Appalachia and the South, it settled into a judgment word - more about being no ’count than being sad.

Usage Notes

"Sorry" in this sense is still alive and well in Appalachian speech. It often overlaps with no ’count. And while "on account of" means "because of," "no account" or "sorry" means "worthless." Outsiders may confuse the two, but locals keep them straight.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it sharp and clipped: "sor-ee." Drawn out, it can sting harder: "saaaw-ree."

Kin Topics

Louse

Common Questions

Does "sorry" mean the same as "apologetic" here?

No - in this usage, it means pitiful, lazy, or worthless.

Is it the same as "no ’count"?

Close - "no ’count" is often used right alongside "sorry."

Do people still say it today?

Yes. You’ll hear "sorry excuse" or "sorry feller" in everyday talk.

Is this meaning unique to Appalachia?

Strongest there and in the South, though older rural dialects elsewhere have used it too.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 25). Sorry. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sorry
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sorry." HillbillySlang.com, 25 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sorry.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Sorry." HillbillySlang.com. August 25, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sorry.

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