fuzzy

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "fuzzy" can describe soda pop that still has bubbles and fizz. If it’s "fuzzy," it’s carbonated. If not, it’s flat.

#Appalachia #Food #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

We always called Coke 'fuzzy' growin' up.

Pronunciation

[FUH-zee]

Meaning & Usage

- Bubbly or carbonated (regional use) (adjective)

Mae:

This pop still fuzzy?

Earl:

Yeah, opened it a minute ago - still got the bubbles.

- Soft, hairy, or blurry (standard use) (adjective)

Mae:

That peach is fuzzy.

other spellings: fizzy, sparkly, bubbly, carbonated, got the tickle, still got fizz, and gone flat

★ When mountain folks asked if a drink was "fuzzy," they didn’t mean hairy - they meant fizzy, bubbly, still good to drink. ★

Origin

From the standard English word "fuzzy," meaning soft or covered with fuzz. In Southern and Appalachian speech, it shifted playfully to describe the "fuzzy-looking" bubbles in soda pop.

Notes

Still remembered in Appalachian and Southern families. Rare outside the region, where "fizzy" or "carbonated" is more common.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "fuh-zee." Same as the regular word "fuzzy."

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Common Questions

Does "fuzzy" mean the same as "fizzy"?

Yes - in this sense, it’s just a regional way of saying the soda has bubbles.

Do people still say this today?

Yes, though mostly among older generations or in families that grew up with it.

What’s the opposite of fuzzy?

Flat - no more bubbles.