Hillbilly Slang

Authentic sayings, folk stories, and mountain wisdom.

the house

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "the house" simply means home. Folks use it instead of saying "my house" or "home," as in "let’s head to the house" or "I left it at the house." In older usage, it could also mean the main dwelling (as opposed to outbuildings) or even the outhouse.

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...
Almost everybody refers to their home to 'the house.' 

Pronunciation

[thuh HOWSS]

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We aim to get true definitions and pronunciations for ever single word we can find. Plus real-life tales from the hills - some funny, some maybe downright wild.

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Meaning & Usage

- Home (noun, main modern sense)

Mae:
Where you headed now?
Earl:
Back to the house.

- The dwelling vs. outbuildings (noun, older sense)

Mae:
Where’s supper?
Earl:
In the house, not out here in the barn.

- Bathroom / outhouse (noun, older sense)

Mae:
Where’s little Bobby?
Earl:
He’s out back at the house.
★ When somebody says "I’m headin’ to the house," they mean going home - not necessarily a literal house. It’s a way of marking the homeplace as *the* central spot. ★

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