Nearabouts
Nearabouts means "approximately" or "around this place." A sturdy old term that’s still right at home in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Hearing 'nearabouts' is more of a thing that happens when you're out in the country. But it's common. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Hearing 'nearabouts' is more of a thing that happens when you're out in the country. But it's common. Pronunciation
[NEER-uh-bouts]
/ˈnɪɹəˌbaʊts/
/ˈnɪɹəˌbaʊts/
Meaning & Usage
- Approximately / Roughly (adverb)
Elmer:
It’s nearabouts eight o’clock, reckon.
It’s nearabouts eight o’clock, reckon.
Estel:
Good enough - supper’s waitin’.
Good enough - supper’s waitin’.- Somewhere Around Here (adverb/adjective)
Mamaw:
You’ll find the well pump nearabouts the old oak.
You’ll find the well pump nearabouts the old oak.
Papaw:
Ain’t moved since ’52.
Ain’t moved since ’52.★ When spoken naturally, the first syllable softens to "neer’bouts." It’s often paired with time or distance: "nearabouts dark," "nearabouts a mile," "nearabouts the crossroads." ★
Origin and Etymology
From older English "nigh about," meaning "close to." The combined form "nearabouts" has lived on longest in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Usage Notes
Still common in informal talk; rarely written outside dialect or storytelling. Often paired with other regional approximations like "round about" or "pert’ near."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 9). Nearabouts. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/nearabout
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Nearabouts." HillbillySlang.com, 9 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/nearabout.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Nearabouts." HillbillySlang.com. October 9, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/nearabout.
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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...