In Appalachian & Southern speech, squall means to cry loudly or fuss hard, especially said of babies and children. It’s a long-standing regional sense that survives alongside the older weather meaning.
Out in the country, you'll hear 'squall' instead of yellin' or cryin'. It's pretty common.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Out in the country, you'll hear 'squall' instead of yellin' or cryin'. It's pretty common.
Pronunciation
[SKWAWL]
/skwɑːl/
Meaning & Usage
- To cry loudly, fuss, or wail (verb)
Talking about a baby
Mae:
How’s the little one?
Earl:
Been squallin’ all mornin’.
- To make a loud, complaining racket (verb; figurative)
About an adult
Mae:
You’d think he broke a leg.
Earl:
He’s just squallin’ ’cause he didn’t get his way.
variations: squalling
★ If your granny ever said, "Quit that squallin’!" she wasn’t talkin’ about the weather - she meant stop that loud fussing right now. ★
Origin and Etymology
"Squall" has been used in English since at least the 1600s. While its meteorological sense ("a sudden storm") is widespread, the meaning "to cry or wail loudly" persisted most strongly in the American South and Appalachia, where it became a common household verb for children’s crying.
Usage Notes
Widely used in the South and Appalachia, especially for babies, toddlers, and little kids. Outside the region, many speakers only recognize the weather meaning, making the crying sense sound rustic, old-fashioned, or uniquely Southern.
Often used in the -in’ form: "squallin’."
Common in parenting, family, and childcare contexts.
Can be playful or sharp depending on tone.
Figurative use ("he’s squallin’ about it") is common in adult speech.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said with a rounded vowel - "skwawl," almost like "squawl."
Yes - but in the South/Appalachia, it also means crying loudly.
Is it only for babies?
Mostly, but adults can "squall" figuratively when complaining loudly.
Is "squal" a misspelling?
It’s a phonetic regional spelling of the spoken form, but the standard spelling is "squall."
Do people outside the South use this meaning?
Rarely. It’s strongly associated with Southern/Appalachian English.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 26). Squall. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/squall
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Squall." HillbillySlang.com, 26 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/squall.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Squall." HillbillySlang.com. November 26, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/squall.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang 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...
Out in the country, you'll hear 'squall' instead of yellin' or cryin'. It's pretty common. 
