Feller
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "feller" is the local way of saying "fellow." It means a man, guy, or fellow person, often said with a bit of familiarity or humor.
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Pronunciation
[FELL-ur]
Meaning & Usage
- Man / guy (noun)
Mae:
Who fixed your roof?
Who fixed your roof?
Earl:
Some feller from town.
Some feller from town.- Familiar / friendly reference (noun)
Ruby:
That feller sure can pick a banjo.
That feller sure can pick a banjo.
Estel:
He’s a good ol’ feller, that’s for sure.
He’s a good ol’ feller, that’s for sure.variations: fellow, guy, man, fella, ol’ boy
★ "Feller" usually isn’t insulting - it’s folksy. It can be neutral ("some feller") or warm ("good ol’ feller"), depending on tone. ★
Origin and Etymology
"Feller" comes directly from "fellow," a word dating back to Old English. In Appalachian and Southern speech, the final syllable shifted to "-er," creating the common local form.
Usage Notes
"Feller" shows up all through Appalachian storytelling, songs, and everyday speech. It’s one of those words outsiders instantly recognize as "hillbilly talk," but to locals it’s just normal.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "feller." The "ow" in "fellow" softens down to "er," a common Appalachian shift in pronunciation.