I Tell You What

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "I tell you what" is a flexible phrase. It can add emphasis, lead into a statement, or stand alone as an exclamation. Often it doesn’t literally mean the speaker is about to tell you something - it’s more of a verbal underline.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If I'm gonna tell you something that I wanna say with some umph, I'll start it with Play audio

'I tell you what...' Whatever comes after that, I mean it extree.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If I'm gonna tell you something that I wanna say with some umph, I'll start it with Play audio

'I tell you what...' Whatever comes after that, I mean it extree.

Pronunciation

[ah TELL yoo whut]
/ɑ ˈtɛl ju wʌt/

Meaning & Usage

- Emphasis / agreement (saying)

Mae:

That fried chicken was somethin’ else.

Earl:

I tell you what, it near bout melted in my mouth.

- Lead-in to a statement (saying)

Mae:

I tell you what - I ain’t plantin’ another row of beans this year.

- Standalone exclamation (saying)

Earl:

I tell you what! I’m wore slap out.

variations: let me tell you what, I’m tellin’ you what, tell you what, I'll tell you what, I tell ya what

★ "I tell you what" doesn’t always mean anything specific. It’s a way of adding weight to your words, like underlining a sentence in conversation. ★

Origin and Etymology

Likely developed as a literal phrase ("I tell you what I’ll do"") but became clipped down over time. In Appalachian and Southern speech it broadened into emphasis, filler, or exclamation.

Usage Notes

Still very common in Appalachian and Southern families. Can be serious, funny, or just conversational padding. Outsiders often notice it as a distinctive bit of Southern talk.

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Said with a marching cadence - almost staccoto. Tone can be excited, serious, or just plain filler.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "I tell you what" mean the speaker is about to explain something?

Not always - often it’s just emphasis or filler.

Do people still use it today?

Absolutely - it’s alive and well in Appalachian and Southern talk.

Is it unique to Appalachia?

No, but it’s especially common in the South and mountains.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 10). I Tell You What. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/i-tell-you-what
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "I Tell You What." HillbillySlang.com, 10 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/i-tell-you-what.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "I Tell You What." HillbillySlang.com. October 10, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/i-tell-you-what.

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