shaller

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "shaller" is the common pronunciation of "shallow." The middle "ow" sound shifts to "er," following the same vowel pattern as "piller" (pillow) and "winder" (window).

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you're out in the country, 'shaller' is still the opposite of deep.

Pronunciation

[SHAL-er]

Meaning & Usage

- Not deep (of water, ground, etc.) (adjective)

Mae:

Fish won’t be in this spot - it’s too shaller.

- Lacking depth (figurative) (adjective)

Earl:

He’s smart, but a bit shaller when it comes to common sense.

other spellings: shallow, not deep, low, thin, barely coverin’, and skin deep

★ "Shaller" isn’t a different word - it’s just how "shallow" naturally comes out in Appalachian and Southern speech. ★

Origin

From Old English *sceald* (not deep). Standard English settled on "shallow," but in Appalachian and Southern dialects, vowel shifts turned it into "shaller."

Notes

Common in Appalachian and Southern speech, especially around creeks, rivers, and ponds. Rare outside these regions, where people nearly always say "shallow."

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "shal-er." The "ow" in "shallow" flattens into "er."

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Is "shaller" a separate word from "shallow"?

No - it’s the regional pronunciation.

Do people outside the South say "shaller"?

Rarely. It’s mostly Appalachian and Southern.

Is it still used today?

Yes - you’ll hear it in casual speech, especially among older generations and in rural communities.