heared

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "heared" is the nonstandard past tense or past participle of "hear." It’s a hallmark of older rural speech, especially in story-telling and gossip: "I heared tell""

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'd say 'heared' is another one that you hear from old timers mostly.

Pronunciation

[HEER-d] or [HEE-erd] (depending on the speaker)

Meaning & Usage

- Past tense/past participle of "hear" (dialect verb form)

Mae:

I heared she moved back home.

Earl:

Yep - I heared that too.

- Set phrase: "I heared tell""

Mae:

I heared tell he caught a catfish bigger’n his arm.

other spellings: heard (standard form)

★ "Heared" is especially tied to older Appalachian speech patterns and oral storytelling. It signals a hand-me-down story, like "they say" or "I heard it from so-and-so," and shows up in many folk tales and WPA oral histories. ★

Origin

"Heared" reflects an older English past tense pattern and analogical formation, reinforced by Scots-Irish dialect brought to Appalachia. Recorded in Appalachian dialect studies since the 19th century and listed in the Dictionary of American Regional English.

Notes

Still heard in rural and older Southern/Appalachian speech, though less common among younger speakers. Recognized as folksy or old-fashioned when used in writing.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "heared" - usually two syllables: "hee-erd."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "heared" incorrect?

It’s nonstandard in formal English but authentic in Southern/Appalachian dialect.

Where do you hear it?

Throughout Appalachia and the rural South, especially in older speakers.

What does "I heared tell" mean?

It’s a set phrase meaning "I heard" or "I heard it said."