allow
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "allow" can mean to say, reckon, or admit something. It’s an old-fashioned use of the word that gives everyday talk a down-home flavor.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I didn't grow up hearing 'allowed' used in this way, but like some others - a couple counties over, it's common. Pronunciation
[uh-LOU]
Meaning & Usage
- To say or claim (verb)
Earl:
He allowed he was gonna plant early this year.
He allowed he was gonna plant early this year.- To admit or concede (verb)
Mae:
You wore out?
You wore out?
Earl:
I’ll allow I’m plumb tuckered out.
I’ll allow I’m plumb tuckered out.other spellings: allowed as how
★ This sense of "allow" doesn’t mean *give permission* - it’s about *speaking or admitting*. Outsiders may not catch the meaning right away, but Southerners and Appalachians know it by heart. ★
Origin
From older English usage, where "allow" could mean "declare" or "admit." This meaning faded in most of America but survived in rural Southern and Appalachian dialects, passed down through oral tradition.
Notes
Still heard among older speakers in the South and Appalachia, especially in storytelling. It can sound old-timey or poetic today, but it remains a living part of dialect speech.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "uh-LOW." Often softened: "’lowed."