Somethin' Fierce

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "something fierce" is an intensifier meaning "very much" or "extremely." It adds punch to descriptions of weather, moods, or just about anything.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #OldTimers #Southern

synonyms: awful, real, mighty, powerful (intensifiers)

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I would saying 'somethin' fierce' is more of a country saying, mainly old timers.

Pronunciation

[SUM-thin FEERSS] /ˈsʌmθɪn fɪərs/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely; very much (expression)

Hazel:

It’s hot something fierce today.

Ray:

Ain’t kiddin’. Had me sweatin’ before breakfast.

variations: somethin’ fierce (dialect spelling)

★ "Something fierce" works like "awful" or "real" as a Southern intensifier, but carries a sharper, more colorful punch. ★

Origin

The phrase developed in 19th-century American English as a way to intensify statements. It shows up in Southern and Appalachian speech by the early 1900s, especially in rural dialect writing. While it exists outside the South, it’s far more common and natural in Southern/Appalachian talk.

Notes

Often paired with weather (raining, snowing, blowing).
Used for emotions ("mad something fierce," "tired something fierce").
Still heard widely in Southern/Appalachian communities today.
Sometimes spelled somethin’ fierce in phonetic dialect writing, but something fierce is the standard form.

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Common Questions

What does "something fierce" mean?

It’s an intensifier meaning "very much" or "extremely."

Is "something fierce" only Southern?

It appears elsewhere, but it’s especially common and natural in Southern and Appalachian English.

Can it describe people as well as weather?

Yes-someone can be "tired something fierce," "hurt something fierce," or "mad something fierce."

Is it still used today?

Yes, you’ll hear it in everyday rural and Southern/Appalachian speech.

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