taters

In Appalachian and Southern speech, taters simply means potatoes - usually cooked in some hearty, down-home way.

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Pronunciation

[TAY-ters]

Meaning & Usage

- Potatoes (noun)

Elmer:

What’s fer supper?

Estel:

Meatloaf, green beans, and mashed taters.

- Sweet Potatoes (noun)

Elmer:

I seen ya bakin’ somethin’ orange in the oven.

Estel:

Sweet taters - don’t burn your tongue.

other spellings: potaters, tatahhs, and 'taters

★ If someone says "pass the taters," it’s polite to hand over both the mashed potatoes and the gravy. ★

Origin

"Taters" is a clipped, informal pronunciation of "potatoes" that’s been around for centuries in English. It appears in Appalachian speech, the rural South, and even old English ballads.

Notes

Taters is nearly always plural and informal. It can refer to any type of potato, though in the hills it often means white potatoes unless sweet taters are specified.

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Common Questions

Do "taters" always mean white potatoes?

Not always. Most of the time, yes, but if sweet potatoes are on the table, folks will call them "sweet taters."

Is "taters" considered slang?

Yes - it’s a colloquial term, not formal English. You wouldn’t write "taters" in a business letter unless you’re talking about actual taters for comic effect.

Where does "taters" come from?

It’s simply a shortened and altered pronunciation of "potatoes," found in dialects for hundreds of years.