Pure-D

In Southern and Appalachian speech, pure-D is an intensifier meaning completely, absolutely, or to an extreme degree. It’s used before adjectives or nouns to heighten the force of whatever follows.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #OldTimers #Southern

synonyms: completely, utterly, flat-out, plumb, t-total, all-out

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you're out in the country, you may hear 'pure-D' or 'pure-T', they're pretty much the same.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you're out in the country, you may hear 'pure-D' or 'pure-T', they're pretty much the same.

Pronunciation

[PYUR-DEE]
/ˈpjʊr.di/

Meaning & Usage

- To emphasize a quality to its fullest extent (intensifier)

Earl:

Did you hear what he did?

Mae:

Sure did - pure-D foolishness if you ask me.

- Used to express strong disapproval or emphasis

Hazel:

You look tired.

Gran:

Honey, I’m pure-D wore out.

variations: pure D, pure-dee

★ If you want to sound authentically Southern, put pure-D right before the thing you’re fussin’ about: "pure-D aggravation," "pure-D nonsense," "pure-D trouble." It hits harder than plain old "very." ★

Origin and Etymology

"Pure-D" likely developed as an emphatic clipping of "pure-dee," itself a Southern/Appalachian pronunciation of "purely" or "pure-deed." The construction appears in Southern dialect writing from the early 1900s and is associated with rural, expressive mountain speech. Its function parallels other regional intensifiers like "plumb," "slam," and "right smart."

Usage Notes

Still heard in the rural South and Appalachia but less common among younger urban speakers. It appears mostly in oral storytelling, family talk, and humorous exaggeration. Always precedes the word being intensified.

Highlights strong emotion, criticism, or admiration.
Sounds natural in both positive and negative contexts.
Considered a marked regionalism - instantly Southern/Appalachian.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does the "D" stand for?

It’s not spelled out - it’s part of the sound structure ("dee"), not an abbreviation.

Is it used in formal writing?

Almost never. It’s a spoken dialect feature.

Is "pure-D" stronger than "very"?

Yes - it conveys emphasis plus a touch of regional flavor.

Do people still say it today?

Yes, though mainly in rural areas and among older Southerners and Appalachians.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 7). Pure-D. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/pure-d
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Pure-D." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/pure-d.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Pure-D." HillbillySlang.com. December 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/pure-d.