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Reckon Where?

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Reckon where?" is a quick response meaning "Where do you think?" or "I wonder where?" It’s a playful, clipped way of turning "I reckon" into a question.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #DialectandGrammar   #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...
I use 'reckon where?' all the time, and others around here do, too. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I use 'reckon where?' all the time, and others around here do, too. 

Pronunciation

[REK-un WHAIR]

Meaning & Usage

- Asking "where do you think?" or "I wonder where?" (question)

Mae:
I bet you left your shoes in the car.
Earl:
Reckon where?

- Playful rhetorical question (figurative)

Mae:
Your hat’s gone.
Earl:
Reckon where?
variations: I reckon where?
★ "Reckon" is one of the strongest markers of Southern/Appalachian speech. Adding "where" turns it into a compact question that outsiders rarely use. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Scots-Irish English "I reckon," meaning "I suppose" or "I think." In Southern/Appalachian speech it shortened into a standalone question "Reckon where?" as a quick, playful way of saying "I wonder where?"

Usage Notes

Still common in rural Southern/Appalachian talk, especially among older speakers. Rarely used elsewhere except as a caricature of Southern speech.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "reckon where?" Often with a rising tone, making it sound like a question: "Reckon where?"

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does "Reckon where?" mean "Where is it?"
Not exactly - it’s more like "I wonder where?" or "Where do you think?"
Is "reckon" still used today?
Yes - especially among older Southerners or when leaning into a country voice.
Do outsiders understand it?
Often, but it sounds distinctly Southern/Appalachian.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 13). Reckon Where?. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/reckon-where
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Reckon Where?." HillbillySlang.com, 13 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/reckon-where.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Reckon Where?." HillbillySlang.com. September 13, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/reckon-where.
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