Plumb Proud
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Plumb Proud" means completely proud or very pleased - a colorful intensifier phrase built from the regional word "plumb."
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
There's a handful of more common uses for 'plumb', and 'plumb proud' is one that's common out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
There's a handful of more common uses for 'plumb', and 'plumb proud' is one that's common out in the country. Pronunciation
[PLUM PROWD]
/plʌm praʊd/
/plʌm praʊd/
Meaning & Usage
- Completely proud or pleased (intensified adjective)
June:
I heard your boy got the scholarship!
I heard your boy got the scholarship!
Pearl:
We’re plumb proud of him.
We’re plumb proud of him.variations: Mighty Proud, Right Proud, Real Proud, Plumb Tickled
★ "Plumb" intensifies "proud" the way it intensifies "broke," "crazy," or "tuckered out." Rural Southerners and Appalachians have used "plumb proud" for generations to express heartfelt pride or delight. ★
Origin and Etymology
Built from the regional intensifier "plumb" + "proud." This phrase reflects older English usage of "plumb" for "completely," kept alive in Southern/Appalachian speech.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in rural Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region it sounds quaint or humorous but conveys the same meaning. Sometimes also heard as "mighty proud" or "right proud."
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "plumb proud" - rhymes with "thumb proud," with "plumb" pronounced like "plum."
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 22). Plumb Proud. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/plumb-proud
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Plumb Proud." HillbillySlang.com, 22 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/plumb-proud.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Plumb Proud." HillbillySlang.com. September 22, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/plumb-proud.
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