cheer

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "cheer" is a dialect pronunciation of "chair." It reflects a vowel shift brought by Scots-Irish settlers and still heard in older rural talk.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'd say you hear 'cheer' out in the country from old timers.

Pronunciation

[CHEER]

Meaning & Usage

- Dialect pronunciation of "chair" (noun)

Mae:

Come on in - pull up a cheer.

Earl:

Thanks - I’ll set right here.

other spellings: chair

★ Spellings like "cheer" for "chair" appear in dialect writing to capture authentic Southern/Appalachian speech patterns. The meaning is the same - only the vowel changes. ★

Origin

From Scots-Irish and older English vowel shifts carried into Appalachian and Southern English. Similar shifts affect words like "bear" → "bar" and "there" → "they-er."

Notes

Still heard among older rural speakers. Outside the South, "cheer" is used only in dialect imitations or humorous writing.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "cheer" - like the word for happiness, but meaning "chair."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "cheer" mean a different kind of chair?

No - it’s simply a dialect pronunciation of "chair."

Is it still used today?

Yes - mostly by older Southerners and in dialect-heavy storytelling.

Should I spell it "cheer" or "chair"?

Use "chair" for standard writing; "cheer" only to show dialect pronunciation.