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.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'd say you hear 'cheer' out in the country from old timers. 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.
Come on in - pull up a cheer.
Earl:
Thanks - I’ll set right here.
Thanks - I’ll set right here.variations: 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 and Etymology
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."
Usage 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."