Hawggin’ (Hogging)

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "hawggin’" means taking more than your fair share - being greedy with food, space, or attention. The word comes from the behavior of hogs crowdin’ each other at the trough.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

With a litter of kids, somebody somewhere is gonna be 'hawggin’' somethin' at ever moment.

Pronunciation

[HAWG-in]

Meaning & Usage

- To take more than one’s share (food, space, resources) (verb)

Mae:

Don’t be hawggin’ all the biscuits.

- To dominate or take all the attention (verb)

Earl:

She was hawggin’ the stage the whole night.

variations: hogging, greedy, selfish, taking over, eat it all, won’t share, hoggin’ the spotlight

★ "Hawggin’" often comes with a scolding tone - parents, siblings, and friends use it to call out greedy behavior. ★

Origin

From Old English *hogg* (swine). The verb "to hog" meaning "to take selfishly" dates to the 1700s. In Appalachia and the South, it naturally became "hawggin’," tied to daily farm life with hogs.

Notes

Common in Appalachian and Southern speech, but understood nationwide. The regional flavor comes through strongest in the clipped pronunciation "hawggin’."

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "hawg-in." The "g" in "-ing" is dropped: "hawggin’."

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Is "hawggin’" different from "hogging"?

No - it’s the same word, but said in the Southern/Appalachian way.

Do people outside the South say it?

Yes - "hogging" is universal, but the clipped "hawggin’" form is regional.

Does it always mean food?

No - it can be used for space, time, or attention too.