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Whoop

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "whoop" can mean to spank, beat, or whip; "a whoopin’" is the spanking or beating itself; and "whooped" often means worn out or defeated.

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Southern

synonyms: whip, beat, spank, exhausted
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh out in the country, you'll hear 'whoop' in all its forms on a daily basis. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Oh out in the country, you'll hear 'whoop' in all its forms on a daily basis. 

Pronunciation

[WHOOP] or [WOOP] (varies)

Meaning & Usage

- To spank or whip (verb)

Mae:
Kids won’t settle down.
Earl:
Then they’ll get whooped if they keep at it.

- A spanking or beating (noun: "whoopin’")

Mae:
What happened after he cheated?
Earl:
He got a whoopin’ from the principal.

- To defeat badly (verb/figurative)

Mae:
How bad’d we lose?
Earl:
Other team flat-out whooped us.

- To wear out; exhaust (adjective/figurative)

Mae:
You alright?
Earl:
Just whooped from haulin’ hay all day.
variations: whooping, whup, whupping, whupped
★ "Whoop" is one of those flexible words: in one breath it can mean a spanking, in another it’s about a fight, and in another it’s just being tired. Tone and context tell which one. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Middle English *whuppen* or *wuppen*, meaning to beat. In American rural speech it became "whoop" or "whup," especially strong in Southern and Appalachian dialects.

Usage Notes

Still widely used in the South and Appalachia. Outside the region, people usually understand it in the "defeat" or "exhausted" sense, but less often in the "spanking" sense. Variants: *whup, whupped, whoopin’.*

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "whoop." In the South it often sounds like "woop." Past tense: "whooped" → "whoopt" or "whupped."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does "whoop" always mean spanking?
No - it can mean spanking, beating, exhausting, or defeating, depending on context.
Is "whooped" the same as "tired"?
Yes - in Southern talk, saying "I’m whooped" means "I’m worn out."
Do people still say "whoopin’"?
Yes - it’s still common in Southern/Appalachian families and stories.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Whoop. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/whoop
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    The Hillbilly Dude. "Whoop." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/whoop.
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