Seein’ as How

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "seeing as how" (or "seein’ as how") means "since" or "because."It’s a conversational way to introduce a reason or explanation, often with a gentle or matter-of-fact tone.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: since, because, given that

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've said and heard 'seein’ as how' all my life, this is another common one.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've said and heard 'seein’ as how' all my life, this is another common one.

Pronunciation

[SEE-in az how]
/ˈsiː.ɪn æz haʊ/

Meaning & Usage

- Because; since; in view of the fact that

Lou:

Seein’ as how the truck won’t start, we might as well walk.

Earl:

Ain’t far anyhow.

variations: seein’ as how, seein’s how, seein as, seein’ how

Origin and Etymology

Derived from older English constructions like "seeing that" and "seeing as," which mean "considering that." Southern and Appalachian speech preserved and expanded the form into "seeing as how," adding a rhythmic flow that reflects spoken emphasis and local idiom.

Usage Notes

Common in Southern and Appalachian storytelling and everyday talk. Adds a natural, narrative tone-often softening a statement or explanation.

"Seein’ as how you’re up, grab the coffee pot." → since you’re already awake.
"Seein’ as how we’re neighbors, I thought I’d stop by." → because we’re neighbors.
"Seein’ as how you ain’t hungry, I’ll save it." → since you’re not hungry.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "seeing as how" mean?

It means "since" or "because," used to explain or justify something.

Is it proper English?

It’s informal and dialectal-perfectly natural in Southern and Appalachian speech, but rarely used in formal writing.

Do people outside the South use it?

Occasionally, but it’s strongly associated with Southern and rural American speech.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 7). Seeing as How. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/seeing-as-how
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Seeing as How." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/seeing-as-how.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Seeing as How." HillbillySlang.com. October 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/seeing-as-how.