Member

In Southern and Appalachian speech, ’member means remember, formed by dropping the unstressed opening syllable "re-." This reduced form is a natural feature of regional pronunciation and has been used in everyday talk for generations.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: remember, recall

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'm not sure I've ever said the 're' part on the front of 'member.' It's a common one around here.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'm not sure I've ever said the 're' part on the front of 'member.' It's a common one around here.

Pronunciation

[MEE-uhm-buhr]
/ˈmiː.əm.bər/

Meaning & Usage

- To recall or bring to mind (verb)

Mae:

You ’member that cold snap back in ’94?

Earl:

Mee-uhm-buhr it clear as day - pipes near froze solid.

Ruby:

’Member to grab your boggan.

Estel:

Already got it packed.

variations: ’member

★ The opposite of 'member' is NOT 'dismember.' I won't make that mistake again. ★

Origin and Etymology

The reduced form "’member" comes from natural unstressed-syllable deletion, a widespread phonological process in English. In Southern and Appalachian dialects, the opening "re-" in "remember" weakens over time, producing forms like "’member," "memmer," and "mee-uhm-buhr." These variants appear in regional dialect writing and oral histories from the 19th century onward.

Usage Notes

The shortened form "’member" is common in informal Southern and Appalachian speech. It often appears in storytelling, family conversation, and casual talk. Younger speakers may use it less often, but most recognize it instantly as part of local dialect.

The "re-" syllable weakens and disappears in fast or casual speech
Several pronunciations exist, from "mem-ber" to "mee-uhm-uhr"
Rarely written outside dialect literature

Say It Like a Southerner

Let the first syllable shrink down or disappear: "’member," "mee-uhm-buhr," or "mee-uhm-uhr." The sound flows quickly, with the stress falling on the middle of the word rather than the dropped "re-."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "’member" proper English?

It’s informal, but it’s a natural and well-established dialect form of "remember."

Why does the "re-" disappear?

Because it’s unstressed. Southern and Appalachian speech often reduces weak syllables.

Do people outside the South say "’member"?

Not commonly. The reduced form is strongly tied to Southern, Appalachian, and some rural dialects.

Is it disrespectful to write it that way?

Not at all. It accurately reflects real speech when used in dialect writing.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 16). Member. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/member
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Member." HillbillySlang.com, 16 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/member.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Member." HillbillySlang.com. November 16, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/member.

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