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.
With a litter of kids, somebody somewhere is gonna be 'hawggin’' somethin' at ever moment.
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)
At the dinner table
Mae:
Don’t be hawggin’ all the biscuits.
- To dominate or take all the attention (verb)
Talking about a friend
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 and Etymology
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.
Usage 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’."
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
With a litter of kids, somebody somewhere is gonna be 'hawggin’' somethin' at ever moment.