Wasper

In Southern and Appalachian speech, a "wasper" is a wasp. The extra "-er" ending is a common dialect feature in the region, found in words like "feller" (fellow) and "widder" (widow).

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synonyms: hornet, yellowjacket, stinger

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've only heard my Dad say 'wasper,' nothin' else. It's a common one down here.

Pronunciation

[WAH-spur] /ˈwɑːspɚ/

Meaning & Usage

- Wasp (noun)

Elmer:

Careful with that woodpile - I seen a wasper fly out of it.

variations: wasp

Origin

From the standard English word wasp. The form wasper developed in Southern and Appalachian dialects, following a regional pattern of adding an "-er" ending to certain words.

Notes

Wasper is still commonly heard in rural parts of the South and Appalachia.
Reflects a wider dialect habit (e.g., "sparrow" → "sparrer," "fellow" → "feller").
Usually appears in speech, but it’s often spelled wasper in folk writing to reflect pronunciation.

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Common Questions

What does "wasper" mean?

It’s the Southern/Appalachian form of "wasp."

Is "wasper" a real word?

Yes - while not standard English, it’s a well-attested dialect form.

Do people still say "wasper"?

Yes, especially in rural areas of the South and Appalachia, often passed down in families.