purty

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "purty" is the common pronunciation (and often the spelling) of "pretty." It can describe appearance, size, or degree - just like "pretty" in standard English.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you grew up down here, chances are it comes out 'purty' instead of 'pretty.' Purty sure, at least.

Pronunciation

[PURR-tee] /ˈpɜːrti/ (regional) · [PRIT-ee] /ˈprɪti/ (standard)

Meaning & Usage

- Attractive, nice-looking (adjective)

Mae:

How’s she look?

Earl:

She’s purty as a picture.

- Fairly; quite (adverbial use)

Mae:

Was it good?

Earl:

Yeah, purty good.

variations: pretty (standard), purty near ("pretty near"), purty good ("pretty good")

★ "Purty" preserves the older British and Southern vowel shift of "pretty" → "purty." It’s one of the most recognizable Appalachian pronunciations and often appears in humorous writing and songs. ★

Origin

Recorded in regional speech across the South and Appalachia for generations. Reflects a natural vowel change in unstressed syllables, creating the "ur" sound in place of "i."

Notes

Still widely heard today. Outside the region "purty" can look quaint or playful but is instantly understood as "pretty."

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "purty" rhymes with "dirty." Use it for "pretty" or "quite" as in "purty near."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "purty" a misspelling?

No - it’s a phonetic spelling of the regional pronunciation of "pretty."

Can you use it adverbially like "purty near"?

Yes - that’s common in Southern/Appalachian speech for "pretty near" or "almost."

Does it always mean attractive?

Not necessarily - it can also mean "quite" or "fairly" depending on the context.