fur

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "fur" is the dialect pronunciation of "far." It shows up in everyday talk and colorful sayings like "a fur piece."

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'd say 'fur' depends on the region. Sometimes it comes out with a real hard 'r'.

Pronunciation

[FUR]

Meaning & Usage

- Far (adjective/adverb, dialect)

Mae:

Is it close?

Earl:

No, it’s fur down yonder.

other spellings: far, a long way, fur down the road, fur off yonder, and fur piece from here

★ The Southern "fur" for "far" is one of the most recognized dialect sounds, often borrowed into storytelling and comedy to give a country flavor. ★

Origin

From the Old English "feorr," meaning far. In Southern and Appalachian dialects, the vowel shifted to sound like "fur." By the 1800s, it was firmly part of regional speech.

Notes

Still common in older generations and country storytelling. Outsiders often see it in print as a way of marking Southern or Appalachian dialect.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "fur," with the vowel shifted. Common in mountain and country speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "fur" a misspelling of "far"?

No - it’s the natural dialect pronunciation in the South and Appalachia.

Do people outside the South say it?

Rarely. It’s recognized, but it sounds distinctly Southern/Appalachian.

Do folks still use it today?

Yes, especially in rural speech and storytelling, though younger speakers often stick to "far."