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Buddan-Buddan Play audio

In Appalachian speech, "buddan-buddan" is an onomatopoeia usually used to mock anybody riding or driving anything with a motor. But it can just represent the sputtering, uneven sound of a small engine-minibike, lawnmower, go-kart, tiller.

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Southern

Pronunciation

[BUH-dun BUH-dun]

Meaning & Usage

- Small-engine sound (noun / sound-word)

By the shed
Mae:
Hear that mower? Buddan-buddan like it’s runnin’ on one cylinder.

Earl:
Yep, she’ll cut if you baby her.

- Mocking imitation of an engine (interjection / tease)

On the roadside
Tate:
That Harley fella about shook the winders.

June:
Buddan-buddan!

(said with a grin)
variations: buddan buddan, buddin buddin, buddin’, boodan boodan
★ Somebody rides by all decked out on a moped? Good time for a 'buddan buddan.' ★

Origin and Etymology

Oral Appalachian usage; a playful, phonetic way of imitating a chugging small engine. Likely evolved locally alongside everyday farm and yard machines, then passed down in families rather than written sources.

Usage Notes

Most common in rural Appalachia and the South. Often doubled ("buddan-buddan") to mimic rhythm. Works straight for sound, or jokingly to deflate showy revving.

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Say it quick and bouncy: "buh-dun buh-dun." Keep the vowels short and let the second beat land a little softer, like a tired cylinder missing a stroke.

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is it only for minibikes?
No-any small, sputtery motor works: mower, go-kart, tiller, old boat motor.
Can I use it for big engines?
You can-as a joke. Folks use it to poke fun at loud revving by comparing it to a pipsqueak motor.
How does it differ from "putt-putt"?
"Putt-putt" is generic; "buddan-buddan" carries a more Appalachian flavor and a choppier cadence.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 9). Buddan-Buddan. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/buddan-buddan
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Buddan-Buddan." HillbillySlang.com, 9 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/buddan-buddan.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Buddan-Buddan." HillbillySlang.com. September 9, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/buddan-buddan.
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