Buddy Row / Budrow
Buddy row (also Budrow) is a Southern and Appalachian word used as a warm, familiar way to address a friend, neighbor, or kid - like "buddy" or "pal."
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I grew up hearin’ it near ever day - 'Let’s go, buddy row!' or 'hey Budrow, what you been into?' Always warm. I don't hear it as much as I used to. I grew up hearin’ it near ever day - 'Let’s go, buddy row!' or 'hey Budrow, what you been into?' Always warm. I don't hear it as much as I used to. Pronunciation
/ˈbʌd.dɹoʊ/ ~ /ˈbʌ.di.ɹoʊ/
Meaning & Usage
- Term of friendly address (noun / vocative)
Hey there, Budrow! Ain’t seen you in a month of Sundays.Been keepin’ busy, buddy row - you know how it is.Origin and Etymology
Likely developed from "buddy" with a rhyming or rhythmic tag (-roe, -row, -ro) common in Southern speech. Variants such as Budrow arose naturally in fast or blended pronunciation. The form is attested in oral use across Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas throughout the 20th century. Though rarely written down, it’s a genuine piece of Southern familiarity - part nickname, part neighborly greeting.
Usage Notes
Used mainly by men toward friends or boys, buddy row carries a tone of warmth and kinship. You might hear it at a gas station, a feed store, or anywhere folks stop to talk awhile. Not formal, never harsh - just Southern friendliness wrapped in a nickname.