Round About

Round about means "approximately," as in "round about two o’clock" or "round about a mile." It’s common English, but the phrasing has stuck around naturally in Southern and Appalachian storytelling and everyday talk.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Time #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll often hear 'round about two o’clock,' it's a common way of describing time.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll often hear 'round about two o’clock,' it's a common way of describing time.

Pronunciation

[ROUND about]
/raʊnd əˈbaʊt/

Meaning & Usage

- Approximately (time/quantity)

Estel:

We’ll head out round about two.

Elmer:

Good enough - I’ll have the truck warmed.

- Rough distance or location

Mamaw:

Spring’s round about a half mile past the sycamore.

Papaw:

You’ll hear it before you see it.

★ You’ll also hear ’round about in dialect writing (dropping the initial "a" in "around"). Avoid the single word roundabout here - that’s the traffic circle. ★

Origin and Etymology

From older British/General English usage of "round" + "about" for approximation. The phrasing remained lively in Southern/Appalachian speech even as many speakers elsewhere shifted to just "around" or "about."

Usage Notes

Two-word form for this meaning: round about. Works with time, amounts, distances, and headcounts: "round about noon," "round about five pounds," "round about ten folks."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "round about" mean the same as "around" or "about"?

Yes - it signals an estimate, just with a slightly older, folksier feel.

Is it Southern-only?

No. It’s widespread English, but it’s especially at home in Southern/Appalachian speech.

Should I write it as one word?

Not for this meaning. Use the two-word round about to avoid confusion with the traffic-circle roundabout.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 8). Round About. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/round-about
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Round About." HillbillySlang.com, 8 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/round-about.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Round About." HillbillySlang.com. October 8, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/round-about.