Course
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "course" is the shortened form of "of course." It’s used in quick, casual talk to agree or emphasize without the extra word.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
It's super common to hear a sentence begin with 'course' instead of 'of course,' especially out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
It's super common to hear a sentence begin with 'course' instead of 'of course,' especially out in the country. Pronunciation
[KOHRS] or [COHRS]
/kɔːrs/
/kɔːrs/
Meaning & Usage
- Surely; naturally; of course (adverb)
Mae:
You comin’ to supper?
You comin’ to supper?
Earl:
Course I am.
Course I am.Origin and Etymology
A reduced form of "of course," found widely in Southern and Appalachian English and carried westward by migration. The clipped rhythm matches other regional contractions such as "’bout" and "’cause."
Usage Notes
Common in informal speech, rarely written except in dialogue.
- Signals a relaxed or conversational tone.
- Less common in Northern or urban dialects.
- Used for friendly emphasis: "Course I did," "Course he won’t."