I Suwannee!

Q: Where did it come from?

From the same roots as Well, I swanne!, a softened oath with print examples from the 1800s. The “suwannee” spelling reflects regional pronunciation.

"I suwannee!" is a Southern and Appalachian exclamation of surprise or disbelief. It’s a spelling and pronunciation variant of Well, I swanne!.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Southern #Exclamations

synonyms: well I declare, heavens above, my goodness

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I hear people say, 'I suwannee!' out in the country.

Pronunciation

[Eye suh-WAHN-ee] /aɪ səˈwɑː.ni/

Meaning & Usage

- Exclamation of surprise or disbelief (interjection)

Clara:

They’re charging five dollars for a dozen eggs.

Elmer:

I suwannee! That’s highway robbery.

variations: I swan, I swanne

Origin

A variant of the old American expression Well, I swanne!, itself a softened oath meaning "Well, I declare!" The form "suwannee" likely arose from regional pronunciation and may have been reinforced by the name of the Suwannee River.

Notes

I suwannee! is especially tied to rural Southern and Appalachian speech.
Though spelled differently, it carries the same meaning as I swan or Well, I swanne!.
Often considered an "old folks’ saying" today, but still recognized as a colorful Southernism.

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Common Questions

What does "I suwannee" mean?

It’s an exclamation of surprise or disbelief - basically "Well, I declare!"

Is it different from "Well, I swanne"?

No, it’s just a spelling and pronunciation variant. Both mean the same thing.

Where did it come from?

From the same roots as Well, I swanne!, a softened oath with print examples from the 1800s. The "suwannee" spelling reflects regional pronunciation.

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