Jeet Yet?In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Jeet yet?" is a quick, friendly way of asking "Did you eat yet?" It’s a hallmark of relaxed, informal talk - often a greeting as much as a question. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #BlendedWords #Southern #BodyandHealth Hillbilly Dude Says... Pronunciation[JEET-yet] (fast, blended) Meaning & Usage- Did you eat yet? (informal question)
Mae:
Earl:
variations: did you eat yet, d’ya eat yet, jeetyet ★ "Jeet yet?" is as much about friendliness and hospitality as it is about food. In many Southern households it’s the first question you hear walking through the door. ★ OriginA classic example of elision - compressing words in fast speech. Documented in the Dictionary of American Regional English as chiefly South, South Midland, and Appalachian. Its roots go back at least to the late 19th century in dialect writing. NotesStill widely used in Southern and Appalachian talk, especially among older speakers. Outside the region it’s often recognized as a humorous or stereotypical rendering of rural speech but is rooted in genuine everyday language. Say It Like a SouthernerSay it as one smooth word: "jeet-yet?" with no pause between. It’s the compressed form of "Did you eat yet?" | ...
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