Innards
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "innards" means a person or animal’s insides - the internal organs, guts, or entrails. Sometimes it’s used playfully for feelings deep down inside.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You don't hear this one too much, but 'innards' can still be heard. Could be because the subject isn't an everyday one! And there is, of course, 'Mountain Dew - It'll Tickle Yore Innards!' Pronunciation
[IN-urdz]
Meaning & Usage
- Internal Organs / Guts (noun)
Earl:
What’d you do with the hog innards?
What’d you do with the hog innards?
Mae:
Fed some to the dogs, saved some for sausage casings.
Fed some to the dogs, saved some for sausage casings.
Ruby:
That chili tore up my innards.
That chili tore up my innards.- Deep Inside / Feelings (figurative)
Estel:
I was laughin’ clean down to my innards.
I was laughin’ clean down to my innards.variations: innards, in’ards, inners
★ "Innards" can sound rough, but in Appalachian talk it’s everyday language. It can be about hog butchering, or just about your stomach acting up. ★
Origin
From "inward" meaning "inside," turned into the plural "innards." The word has been in English since the 1500s and stuck hard in rural and Southern dialects, especially around farming and food.
Notes
"Innards" is common in kitchen talk, hunting, and butchering. It also shows up metaphorically, like "tickled to my innards" or "hurts in my innards." You’ll hear it across Appalachia and the South.
Say It Like a Southerner
Starts like "in," then "erds" with a soft "d" - often said quick, like "inn-erds." Mountain speech keeps it short and plain.