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Tolerable

In Appalachian and Southern speech, answering "tolerable" means you’re getting by - not great, not terrible. It’s a modest, understated way of saying you’re doing alright.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #PeopleandRelationships   #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...
You heard the answer 'tolerable' plenty to the question of 'how you doin'?" 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You heard the answer 'tolerable' plenty to the question of 'how you doin'?" 

Pronunciation

[TAH-lur-uh-bul]

Meaning & Usage

- Doing okay, not bad (adjective, conversational)

Mae:
How you holdin’ up?
Earl:
About tolerable, I guess.
★ When a Southerner says "tolerable," they’re being modest. It’s a way of downplaying their troubles while still admitting things aren’t perfect. ★

Origin and Etymology

From the English word "tolerable," meaning "bearable" or "endurable." Southerners adopted it as a stock answer to "How are you?" where it came to mean "good enough."

Usage Notes

Still heard in the South and Appalachia, though mostly among older generations. It gives everyday talk a plain, humble flavor that outsiders often find charming.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "tah-lur-bul." The middle syllables blur together in Southern speech.

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does "tolerable" mean bad?
Not really - it means "alright" or "so-so," not miserable.
Do people outside the South say it this way?
Rarely. The conversational use of "tolerable" as a greeting response is strongest in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Do folks still use it today?
Yes - though less common among younger people, it remains a recognizable old-timey Southern reply.

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    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 7). Tolerable. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/tolerable
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