Chill Bumps
In Southern and Appalachian speech, chill bumps are what many outside the region call "goose bumps" or "goose pimples" - the little raised spots on your skin when you’re cold, scared, or moved by something.
synonyms: goose bumps, goose pimples, raised skin
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I only heard them called 'chill bumps' - I'm just now findin' out it's country. Pronunciation
[CHILL-bumps] /ˈtʃɪl bʌmps/
Meaning & Usage
- Raised skin from cold or emotion (noun)
Martha:
Did y’all hear that noise? I got chill bumps.
Did y’all hear that noise? I got chill bumps.
Clara:
Me too - sounds like Papaw’s old hound.
Me too - sounds like Papaw’s old hound.variations: chill bumps, goose bumps, goose pimples
★ Saying you "got chill bumps" isn’t just about being cold - Southerners use it for goose bumps from music, a touching moment, or a spine-tingling story. ★
Origin
A regional synonym for "goose bumps," rooted in rural and Southern English. "Chill" describes the sensation, while "bumps" names the raised spots on the skin. Documented widely across the South and Appalachia since at least the early 20th century.
Notes
- Chill bumps - standard Southern/Appalachian form ("That song gives me chill bumps every time.")
- Goose bumps / goose pimples - more common outside the South.
- Used to describe strong emotional reactions as much as cold: "That story gave me chill bumps."
- Still widely understood across the U.S., but most strongly tied to Southern and Appalachian speech.