Couple Three
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "couple three" means "two or three" or simply "a few." It’s a casual way of approximating a small number, often heard in rural talk.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
"We stayed over at Aunt Sue’s for a couple three days after the fair." Hillbilly Dude Says...
"We stayed over at Aunt Sue’s for a couple three days after the fair." Pronunciation
[KUP-ul THREE]
Meaning & Usage
- Two or three; a few (dialect numeric expression)
Mae:
How long y’all staying?
How long y’all staying?
Earl:
Oh, just a couple three nights.
Oh, just a couple three nights.variations: two or three, a few
★ "Couple three" is part of a regional pattern of number stacking ("couple two-three") influenced by Scots-Irish and German speech in Appalachia and the South Midland. It signals an approximate count, not a literal number. ★
Origin and Etymology
Found in Appalachian dialect studies and also appearing in Pennsylvania Dutch English and the rural Midwest, but especially common in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Usage Notes
Still heard among older Southerners and in rural communities. Outside the region it’s rare and may puzzle listeners, but it’s instantly recognizable to locals.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "a couple three" - typically in phrases like "a couple three days" or "a couple three times."