whatnaworld

An Appalachian exclamation meaning "what in the world?" - used to express surprise, disbelief, or confusion.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia

Hillbilly Dude Says...

All the time. With a house full o'people, I say 'whatnaworld!?' probbly everday.

Pronunciation

[WUT-nuh-wurld]

Meaning & Usage

- Expression of Surprise or Confusion (exclamation)

Elmer:

Whatnaworld is that critter doin’ in my kitchen?

Estel:

Looks like he’s fixin’ to make hisself some taters.

other spellings: whatnaworld, what-in-the-world, what in the world, whutnaworld, whut in the world, whutnawhirl, and whatnawhirl

★ When you hear "whatnaworld" in these parts, it means the speaker’s brain is still tryin’ to catch up with what their eyes just saw. ★

Origin

A compressed and blended form of "what in the world," with syllables slurred together in fast Appalachian speech. Likely came from everyday expressions of surprise passed down through generations.

Notes

"Whatnaworld" often kicks off a sentence when something unexpected happens. The tone can range from playful teasing to genuine shock. You’ll hear it most often from older speakers, but it still pops up among younger folks for comedic effect.

Say It Like a Southerner

Start with "what" like "wut," then roll "in the" into a quick "nuh." Finish with "world" softened to "wurld." Say it fast so it blends into "whatnaworld." Tone can be high and startled for genuine shock, or drawn out for playful disbelief.

Kin Topics

Appalachia

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "whatnaworld" proper English?

Not in the formal sense, but it’s perfectly proper in Appalachian conversation. It’s a colloquial, regionalism-heavy expression.

Is it always negative?

Nope. It can be amazed, amused, or bewildered - tone of voice makes the difference.

Do people outside Appalachia use it?

Rarely in speech, though you might see it in books or stories that capture regional dialogue.

Does it mean the same as "what the heck"?

Pretty close - though "whatnaworld" is a little more wholesome and a lot more colorful.