strang

In Appalachian speech, "strang" is the local pronunciation of "string." You might hear it most in gardening and kitchen talk, like a "strang of beans." But any string is a 'strang.'

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Strang' is more of an old timer way of saying it, but you'll still hear it plenty.

Pronunciation

[STRANG]

Meaning & Usage

- String / Piece of Cord (noun)

Earl:

Hand me a strang to tie this sack shut.

- String of Beans (noun)

Ruby:

Them strangs of beans is ready for pickin’.

other spellings: strang, and string

★ If you hear "strang" in a mountain kitchen, it almost always means beans - snapped, strung, and ready for cookin’. ★

Origin

From Old English "streng" and Scots dialect "strang" (string, cord). Early Scots-Irish settlers brought the form to Appalachia, where it stuck in rural speech.

Notes

"Strang" is less common outside of rural or older speakers, but it’s a living example of how Scots-Irish roots shaped Appalachian English.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say "string" but let the vowel shift wide and drop the "i." It comes out as "strang," rhyming with "hang."

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Common Questions

Does "strang" mean strong?

Not here - it’s a dialect form of "string." Context makes it clear.

Do people still say it today?

Yes - mostly among older generations and in rural areas, especially in garden talk.

Is it only Appalachian?

It’s most common there, but has roots in Scots and Ulster dialects.

Do people write it as "strang"?

Sometimes in dialect writing, but in standard writing it appears as "string."