   What You Say There?In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Wah ya say thur?" (standard "What do you say there?") is a friendly greeting - like "Howdy" or "What’s up?" It’s an old-time conversational opener that signals friendliness more than a literal question. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern synonyms: hello, greeting Hillbilly Dude Says...  Growin' up, there wasn't a time I saw Elmer and he didn't say ‘wah ya say thur?.' You hear this one out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says... Growin' up, there wasn't a time I saw Elmer and he didn't say ‘wah ya say thur?.' You hear this one out in the country. Pronunciation[WAH yuh SAY thur] Meaning & Usage- A friendly greeting or conversational opener (interjection)
Mae:
Wah ya say thur?
Earl:
Just headed to town, how ’bout you?variations: What do you say there?, Whadya say thar?, Wha’ d’ya say? ★ "Wah ya say thur?" isn’t meant literally. It’s a porch-style way of saying "Hey there" or "Howdy" that once opened many a conversation in rural towns. ★ Origin and EtymologyFrom older Scots-Irish English greetings ("What do you say?") carried into Appalachian and Southern dialect. The vowel shifts ("wah" for "what," "thur" for "there") reflect authentic regional pronunciation. Usage NotesStill heard among older Southerners and Appalachians, especially men greeting each other casually. Outside the region it’s rare, and younger speakers often don’t recognize it. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "wah yuh say thur?" - a quick, friendly greeting rather than an actual question. | ...
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... |