You’ll hear "Throwed" in Southern and Appalachian speech as a nonstandard past tense of "throw" - for example, "He throwed that ball clean across the yard."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You’ll hear "Throwed" in Southern and Appalachian speech as a nonstandard past tense of "throw" - for example, "He throwed that ball clean across the yard."
Pronunciation
[THROWD] /θroʊd/
Meaning & Usage
- Dialect past tense of "throw" (verb)
Everyday speech
Billy:
Where’s the rock?
Ray:
I throwed it in the creek.
variations: Threw (standard form), Growed (past of Grow), Knowed (past of Know)
★ "Throwed" follows an older English pattern of adding "-ed" to form the past tense. Similar forms like "growed" and "knowed" survive in Southern/Appalachian speech as markers of local color and informality. ★
Origin and Etymology
This past tense pattern dates back to older English and Scots-Irish speech. Settlers carried it to Appalachia and the rural South, where it persisted as part of everyday talk.
Usage Notes
Still heard in rural Southern/Appalachian areas and among speakers who use dialect forms intentionally for humor or authenticity. Outside the region "throwed" is understood but considered nonstandard English.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "throwed" - rhymes with "road," often said with a soft "th": "thro’d."
In standard English yes, but in dialect it’s a living feature with deep roots.
Are "growed" and "knowed" related?
Yes - they’re the same pattern, showing an older way of forming past tenses.
Is it still used today?
Yes - mostly in rural speech or by people imitating a folksy tone.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 21). Throwed. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/throwed
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Throwed." HillbillySlang.com, 21 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/throwed.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Throwed." HillbillySlang.com. September 21, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/throwed.
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