See-yee

In Southern and Appalachian speech, see-yee (or see-ee) is a warm, drawn-out way to say see you when parting. The vowel stretches and softens, turning a plain goodbye into something easy and familiar - a hallmark of friendly country talk.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #DialectandGrammar #Southern

synonyms: goodbye, later, take care

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Might be more of a guy thing, but 'see-yee.' is super common out in the country. You might holler it out the winder when you're drivin' off, or end a phone call with it.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Might be more of a guy thing, but 'see-yee.' is super common out in the country. You might holler it out the winder when you're drivin' off, or end a phone call with it.

Pronunciation

[SEE-yee] or [SEE-ee]
/siː ji/ or /siː i/

Meaning & Usage

- Friendly farewell (phrase)

Ruth:

Alright hon, I’ll holler at ya tomorrow.

Mae:

Okay then" see-yee.

- Polite leave-taking in person (phrase)

Earl:

Y’all come back now, y’hear?

Clara:

We will. See-ee.

variations: see-ee, see-ya, see you

★ That little rise at the end of see-yee keeps it friendly - it’s not goodbye forever, just goodbye for now. ★

Origin and Etymology

The phrase see you is universal, but its stretched, musical Southern form - see-yee or see-ee - grew naturally from the region’s slower speech rhythm and vowel glides. Linguists note that this drawn-out ending appears most often in Appalachia and the rural South, where intonation and tone carry as much warmth as the words themselves.

Usage Notes

Used at the end of a phone call, church visit, or front-porch talk, see-yee is a signature Southern goodbye.

Alright then" see-yee. - friendly parting between neighbors.
Talk to ya later - see-ee. - soft call ending.
Y’all behave now" see-yee. - affectionate, often playful.

Unlike the flat "see ya" heard elsewhere, "see-yee" carries a lilt that signals connection and kindness.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "see-yee" mean?

It’s a Southern and Appalachian way of saying "see you," stretched for friendliness.

Do people outside the South say it?

Rarely. "See-ya" is common nationwide, but "see-yee" (or "see-ee") is distinct to the South and mountain areas.

Why do Southerners stretch it out?

The longer vowels match the region’s natural speech rhythm - it sounds warm and unhurried.

Is it used formally?

No. It’s casual, friendly, and part of everyday talk among family, friends, and neighbors.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 7). See-yee. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/see-yee
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "See-yee." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/see-yee.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "See-yee." HillbillySlang.com. November 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/see-yee.

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