Daggum
Daggum is a Southern and Appalachian euphemistic expletive derived from something blasphemous. It expresses frustration, emphasis, or surprise without profanity.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'd say growin' up, me and my brother were those ones sayin' 'daggum' the most in our family. But it was common, and still is. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'd say growin' up, me and my brother were those ones sayin' 'daggum' the most in our family. But it was common, and still is. Pronunciation
[DAG-uhm]
/ˈdæɡ.əm/
/ˈdæɡ.əm/
Meaning & Usage
- Mild Expletive or Emphasis (interjection/adjective)
Raylene:
That daggum truck won’t start.
That daggum truck won’t start.
Cletus:
Maybe it’s tryin’ to take the day off too.
Maybe it’s tryin’ to take the day off too.★ A close relative of dadblame, dadburn, and dadblasted - all part of the Southern tradition of "minced oaths," polite substitutes for stronger language. ★
Origin and Etymology
A 19th-century American euphemism formed through phonetic alteration of something blasphemous. The softened consonants made it acceptable in polite or religious communities. Its enduring use across Southern and Appalachian speech reflects a cultural preference for colorful but inoffensive language.
Usage Notes
Common throughout the South and Appalachia, both in spoken and humorous contexts. Frequently used in television, literature, and rural storytelling as a marker of authentic Southern speech.
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 13). Daggum. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/daggum
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Daggum." HillbillySlang.com, 13 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/daggum.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Daggum." HillbillySlang.com. October 13, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/daggum.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...