Awful

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "awful" is often used as a magnifier to mean "very" or "extremely," as in "awful good" or "awful full."

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: very, mighty, real, powerful (dialectal intensifiers)

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Using 'awful' in place of 'very' is super common around here, you'll hear it all the time.

Pronunciation

[AW-ful] /ˈɔː.fəl/

Meaning & Usage

- Used as an intensifier (adverb/adjective)

Clara:

That fried chicken was awful good.

Ray:

Yeah, but now I’m awful full.

variations: awful good, awful full, awful tired

★ In this sense, "awful" doesn’t mean bad-it flips around to mean "very." It’s a common way Southerners and Appalachians add emphasis in everyday talk. ★

Origin

Originally, "awful" meant "inspiring awe." Over time, it shifted into an all-purpose intensifier. By the 1800s, speakers in the South and Appalachia were using "awful" to mean "very," a usage that stuck in the region even as it faded in other parts of the country.

Notes

Often paired with positive words like "good," "sweet," or "proud."
Also used with neutral or negative words: "awful tired," "awful late."
Still common in Southern/Appalachian English, though considered old-fashioned elsewhere.
Part of a larger Southern pattern of colorful intensifiers ("mighty good," "real nice," "powerful strong").

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "awful good" mean bad or good?

In this context, it means "very good." The "awful" just adds emphasis.

Is this use still common?

Yes, especially in the South and Appalachia. In other regions, it may sound old-fashioned.

Can "awful" be used with negative words, too?

Yes-"awful tired," "awful sore," "awful late." It just means "very."

How is this different from standard English?

Standard English usually uses "awful" only negatively ("an awful day"), but Southern/Appalachian speech keeps the older intensifier sense alive.