Sorry
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "sorry" often means pitiful, lazy, or worthless - not apologetic. It’s used to judge a person, animal, crop, or situation as no ’count.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When we say somebody’s sorry around here, we don’t mean they’re apologizin’. We mean they’re no ’count - lazy, pitiful, or just plain sorry. Hillbilly Dude Says...
When we say somebody’s sorry around here, we don’t mean they’re apologizin’. We mean they’re no ’count - lazy, pitiful, or just plain sorry. Pronunciation
[SAWR-ee] → often quick: [SOR-ee]
Meaning & Usage
- Worthless, pitiful (adjective)
Mae:
That’s a sorry excuse for a truck.
That’s a sorry excuse for a truck.
Earl:
Yep, no ’count thing won’t run half the time.
Yep, no ’count thing won’t run half the time.- Lazy or no-account (adjective)
Ruby:
He’s a sorry feller - won’t lift a finger to help.
He’s a sorry feller - won’t lift a finger to help.
Mae:
Ain’t never been worth much.
Ain’t never been worth much.variations: sorry, no ’count, sorriest
★ When a mountain person calls something "sorry," it’s not pity - it’s a sharp judgment. Best avoided unless you mean it. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English *sār* (sore, painful). By the 1500s, "sorry" meant wretched or pitiful. In Appalachia and the South, it settled into a judgment word - more about being no ’count than being sad.
Usage Notes
"Sorry" in this sense is still alive and well in Appalachian speech. It often overlaps with no ’count. And while "on account of" means "because of," "no account" or "sorry" means "worthless." Outsiders may confuse the two, but locals keep them straight.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it sharp and clipped: "sor-ee." Drawn out, it can sting harder: "saaaw-ree."