Behoove

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "behoove" means to be wise, proper, or beneficial for someone to do. Once common in older English, it survives most strongly in the South and Appalachia.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #OldTimers #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Oh when my Momma used 'behoove,' it meant business. I still hear this one, but it's less common nowadays.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Oh when my Momma used 'behoove,' it meant business. I still hear this one, but it's less common nowadays.

Pronunciation

[beh-HOOV]
/bɪˈhuːv/

Meaning & Usage

- To be proper, wise, or necessary for someone (verb)

Mae:

He keeps runnin’ late.

Earl:

It’d behoove him to start leavin’ earlier.

Ruby:

They’re fussin’ again.

Estel:

Well, it might behoove ’em to calm down a bit.

variations: behoof (rare older form)

★ "Behoove" sounds formal in most of the country, but in the South and Appalachia it’s regular, natural talk - especially when offering advice, caution, or gentle correction. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Old English behōfian, meaning "to be necessary." The word survived in rural Southern and Appalachian English long after fading elsewhere in casual speech.

Usage Notes

Often used in advice or soft warning:

It’d behoove you to" - strong suggestion or good sense
Might behoove him/her - polite caution or correction
Doesn’t behoove - improper, unwise, or unfitting behavior

Still widely understood across the U.S., but used far more naturally and frequently in Southern and Appalachian communities.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "behoove" Southern?

It’s not originally Southern, but it survives most strongly in the South and Appalachia, where it’s still everyday speech.

Does it mean "you should"?

Yes - it suggests what’s proper, wise, or beneficial.

Is it formal?

Outside the region it can sound formal. Within the South and Appalachia, it’s normal conversation.

Do younger folks use it?

Less often, but you’ll still hear it in families and churches, and from anyone raised around older speakers.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 21). Behoove. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/behoove
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Behoove." HillbillySlang.com, 21 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/behoove.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Behoove." HillbillySlang.com. November 21, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/behoove.