acrosst
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "acrosst" (also spelled acrost, acrossed, or across’t) is the regional way of saying "across." The extra "-t" sound is a natural drift in speech that’s been passed down for generations.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearin' 'acrosst,' and it does make the rounds on occassion. I could say either way. Pronunciation
[uh-KRAWST]
Meaning & Usage
- On the other side, from one side to the other (preposition/adverb)
Mae:
Where’s the store?
Where’s the store?
Earl:
Right acrosst the bridge.
Right acrosst the bridge.- Opposite or directly over from (preposition)
Mae:
She lives acrosst from the post office.
She lives acrosst from the post office.other spellings: across, acrost, acrossed, across’t, straight across, and cross the way
★ The "-t" at the end of "across" is one of those speech habits that stuck in Appalachia and the South. It’s the same pattern you’ll hear in "oncet" (once) and "twicet" (twice). ★
Origin
From Middle English *acros* (from *a-* + *cros*). The added "-t" sound appeared in spoken English centuries ago. While most regions dropped it, Appalachian and Southern speech preserved it as "acrosst" and its variants.
Notes
Very common in Appalachia and the South, especially in rural communities. Rare outside these regions, where the "-t" ending is often considered nonstandard.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "uh-krawst." The added "-t" sound comes in quick at the end.