I Suwannee!
"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 #Euphemisms
synonyms: well I declare, heavens above, my goodness
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I hear people say, 'I suwannee!' out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I hear people say, 'I suwannee!' out in the country. Pronunciation
[Eye suh-WAHN-ee]
/aɪ səˈwɑː.ni/
/aɪ səˈwɑː.ni/
Meaning & Usage
- Exclamation of surprise or disbelief (interjection)
Clara:
They’re charging five dollars for a dozen eggs.
They’re charging five dollars for a dozen eggs.
Elmer:
I suwannee! That’s highway robbery.
I suwannee! That’s highway robbery.variations: I swan, I swanne
Origin and Etymology
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.
Usage 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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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 2). I Suwannee!. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/i-suwannee
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "I Suwannee!." HillbillySlang.com, 2 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/i-suwannee.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "I Suwannee!." HillbillySlang.com. October 2, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/i-suwannee.
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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...