In Appalachian and Southern speech, "I tell you what" is a flexible phrase. It can add emphasis, lead into a statement, or stand alone as an exclamation. Often it doesn’t literally mean the speaker is about to tell you something - it’s more of a verbal underline.
If I'm gonna tell you something that I wanna say with some umph, I'll start it with 'I tell you what...' Whatever comes after that, I mean it extree.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If I'm gonna tell you something that I wanna say with some umph, I'll start it with 'I tell you what...' Whatever comes after that, I mean it extree.
Pronunciation
[ah TELL yoo whut]
/ɑ ˈtɛl ju wʌt/
Meaning & Usage
- Emphasis / agreement (saying)
At supper
Mae:
That fried chicken was somethin’ else.
Earl:
I tell you what, it near bout melted in my mouth.
- Lead-in to a statement (saying)
Talking with a neighbor
Mae:
I tell you what - I ain’t plantin’ another row of beans this year.
- Standalone exclamation (saying)
After a long day
Earl:
I tell you what! I’m wore slap out.
variations: let me tell you what, I’m tellin’ you what, tell you what, I'll tell you what, I tell ya what
★ "I tell you what" doesn’t always mean anything specific. It’s a way of adding weight to your words, like underlining a sentence in conversation. ★
Origin and Etymology
Likely developed as a literal phrase ("I tell you what I’ll do"") but became clipped down over time. In Appalachian and Southern speech it broadened into emphasis, filler, or exclamation.
Usage Notes
Still very common in Appalachian and Southern families. Can be serious, funny, or just conversational padding. Outsiders often notice it as a distinctive bit of Southern talk.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said with a marching cadence - almost staccoto. Tone can be excited, serious, or just plain filler.
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If I'm gonna tell you something that I wanna say with some umph, I'll start it with