throwed

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Throwed" is the dialectal past tense of "throw," used instead of the standard "threw."

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

You’ll hear "Throwed" in Southern and Appalachian speech as a nonstandard past tense of "throw" - for example, "He throwed that ball clean across the yard."

Pronunciation

[THROWD] /θroʊd/

Meaning & Usage

- Dialect past tense of "throw" (verb)

Billy:

Where’s the rock?

Ray:

I throwed it in the creek.

variations: Threw (standard form), Growed (past of Grow), Knowed (past of Know)

★ "Throwed" follows an older English pattern of adding "-ed" to form the past tense. Similar forms like "growed" and "knowed" survive in Southern/Appalachian speech as markers of local color and informality. ★

Origin

This past tense pattern dates back to older English and Scots-Irish speech. Settlers carried it to Appalachia and the rural South, where it persisted as part of everyday talk.

Notes

Still heard in rural Southern/Appalachian areas and among speakers who use dialect forms intentionally for humor or authenticity. Outside the region "throwed" is understood but considered nonstandard English.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "throwed" - rhymes with "road," often said with a soft "th": "thro’d."

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Common Questions

Is "throwed" wrong?

In standard English yes, but in dialect it’s a living feature with deep roots.

Are "growed" and "knowed" related?

Yes - they’re the same pattern, showing an older way of forming past tenses.

Is it still used today?

Yes - mostly in rural speech or by people imitating a folksy tone.