Looks like he’s fixin’ to make hisself some taters.
variations: whatnaworld, what-in-the-world, what in the world, whutnaworld, whut in the world, whutnawhirl, whatnawhirl
★ When you hear "whatnaworld" in these parts, it means the speaker’s brain is still tryin’ to catch up with what their eyes just saw. ★
Origin
A compressed and blended form of "what in the world," with syllables slurred together in fast Appalachian speech. Likely came from everyday expressions of surprise passed down through generations.
Notes
"Whatnaworld" often kicks off a sentence when something unexpected happens. The tone can range from playful teasing to genuine shock. You’ll hear it most often from older speakers, but it still pops up among younger folks for comedic effect.
Say It Like a Southerner
Start with "what" like "wut," then roll "in the" into a quick "nuh." Finish with "world" softened to "wurld." Say it fast so it blends into "whatnaworld." Tone can be high and startled for genuine shock, or drawn out for playful disbelief.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
All the time. With a house full o'people, I say 'whatnaworld!?' probbly everday.