mighty
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "mighty" is a common intensifier meaning "very," "extremely," or "quite." It’s used before adjectives or adverbs to add warmth and emphasis: "mighty kind," "mighty proud," "mighty fine."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I use this one more when I'm admonishin' behavior. 'Oh that's 'mighty brave of that feller to hooddoo the mayor.' And I'll stretch out that 'i' sound. This is still common in the country. Pronunciation
[MY-tee] /ˈmaɪti/
Meaning & Usage
- Very; extremely; quite (adverbial intensifier)
Mae:
We’re mighty glad you stopped by.
We’re mighty glad you stopped by.- Strong or powerful (adjective)
Mae:
That’s a mighty river out there.
That’s a mighty river out there.variations: very, extremely, right (regional intensifier), plumb (regional intensifier)
★ "Mighty" as an intensifier survived in Southern/Appalachian speech long after it faded in most of the U.S. It sits alongside "right," "plumb," and "pure" as classic regional ways to say "very." ★
Origin
From Old English "mihtiġ" (powerful) and Middle English "mighti." In older English it meant both "strong" and "extremely." Recorded in regional word lists and Appalachian speech as a friendly intensifier ("mighty kind," "mighty fine").
Notes
Still everyday in Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region "mighty" as an intensifier sounds quaint but is widely understood and often used playfully.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: often "mah-tee" or "mi-tee" in mountain speech. Pairs easily with adjectives: "mighty big," "mighty glad."