In Southern and Appalachian speech, jehu-pronounced yay-hoo-means a greenhorn, goofball, or foolish person. Though the word is not Southern in origin, this regional pronunciation and meaning have been preserved primarily in the rural South and Appalachia.
You might hear somebody sayin', 'now look at this yay-hoo,' pointin' out somebody doin' something goofy.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You might hear somebody sayin', 'now look at this yay-hoo,' pointin' out somebody doin' something goofy.
Pronunciation
[YAY-hoo]
/ˈjeɪ.huː/
Meaning & Usage
- A foolish, naïve, or goofy person (noun)
Calling out someone being silly
Eula:
You big yay-hoo, that’s the wrong end of the board!
Raymond:
Well hold it still and I’ll fix it!
- A person acting without sense or experience (noun)
Used when someone is being a greenhorn
Dolores:
He tried to back the trailer in from the blind side.
Virgil:
Bless him. He’s a real yay-hoo sometimes.
variations: yayhoo, yay-hoo
★ Don’t confuse yay-hoo with yahoo. They sound alike, but Southern yay-hoo comes from "jehu" and means a greenhorn or goofball-not a rowdy troublemaker. ★
Origin and Etymology
The word jehu comes from a biblical figure known for driving his chariot furiously, which led early English speakers to use the term for reckless drivers. In the American South and Appalachia, however, the word underwent semantic shift and phonetic reshaping. The regional form yay-hoo developed, and the meaning changed to "foolish person" or "greenhorn." This locally preserved meaning is distinct from both the biblical sense and the standard English use.
Usage Notes
In modern use, yay-hoo is rare outside the South and Appalachia. Within the region, it appears mostly among older speakers and in rural communities. The term is lighthearted and usually teasing rather than harsh.
Pronounced "yay-hoo," not "jee-hoo" in Southern usage.
Refers to a goofy, inexperienced, or foolish person.
Distinct from "yahoo," a different word with a different origin and meaning.
Still found in Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, and northern Alabama.
No. "Yay-hoo" comes from "jehu" and means a greenhorn; "yahoo" comes from Jonathan Swift and means a crude or loutish person.
Is this word used outside the South?
Not with this meaning or pronunciation. The "goofball" sense is regionally preserved.
Is it insulting?
Mildly-it’s closer to playful teasing than a serious insult.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 2). Jehu. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jehu
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Jehu." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jehu.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Jehu." HillbillySlang.com. December 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jehu.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang 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...
You might hear somebody sayin', 'now look at this yay-hoo,' pointin' out somebody doin' something goofy. 
