   Got Me A...In Appalachian and Southern speech, the "got X a" pattern adds a benefactive/reflexive pronoun after "got" to mean "got (for) oneself/ourselves/themselves." It’s a living grammar feature, not "wrong English." synonyms: got myself a, got yourself a, got themselves a, bought/found/made (for oneself) Hillbilly Dude Says...  This phrasing is super common down here. Another one I didn't realize was just us. Hillbilly Dude Says... This phrasing is super common down here. Another one I didn't realize was just us. Pronunciation[GAHT mee / yoo / thuym] /ɡɑt miː | juː | ðɛm/ Meaning & Usage- Benefactive Possession (emphatic "got " for oneself")
Earl:
I got me a used tractor.
Mae:
Nice-runs good?- Discovery / Acquisition (excited find or deal)
Ruby:
You got you a real deal on that quilt.
Hazel:
Ten dollars at the yard sale!- Group / Third-Person Variants (us/them/him/her)
Papaw:
We got us a new pup.
Leroy:
They got them a place up on the ridge.
Clara:
He got him a job at the mill.
Mavis:
She got her a sewing machine.★ Linguists call this the Southern/Appalachian reflexive (benefactive) dative: adding a pronoun ("me/you/us/them/him/her") after "got" to highlight personal benefit or emphasis. ★ Origin and EtymologyCarried over from older Northern English and Scots-Irish speech where reflexive/benefactive pronouns were common ("I got me"," "I fixed me""). Settlers brought the pattern to the American South and Appalachia, where it remains vibrant. Usage NotesThe "got X a" pattern is one of the most recognizable features of Southern and Appalachian English. It adds a reflexive/benefactive pronoun after "got" to emphasize that something was obtained or done for oneself (or for the person/group mentioned). In writing it may look informal, but in speech it’s perfectly natural. Often pairs with other regional features ("I done got me a"," "I went and got me a"")
Say It Like a SouthernerSay it natural: "I got me a"," "You got you a"," "They got them a"," "We got us a"," "He got him a"," "She got her a"" | ...
About Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more... |