   TolerableIn Appalachian and Southern speech, answering "tolerable" means you’re getting by - not great, not terrible. It’s a modest, understated way of saying you’re doing alright. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern Hillbilly Dude Says...  You heard the answer 'tolerable' plenty to the question of 'how you doin'?" Hillbilly Dude Says... You heard the answer 'tolerable' plenty to the question of 'how you doin'?" Pronunciation[TAH-lur-uh-bul] Meaning & Usage- Doing okay, not bad (adjective, conversational)
Mae:
How you holdin’ up?
Earl:
About tolerable, I guess.★ When a Southerner says "tolerable," they’re being modest. It’s a way of downplaying their troubles while still admitting things aren’t perfect. ★ Origin and EtymologyFrom the English word "tolerable," meaning "bearable" or "endurable." Southerners adopted it as a stock answer to "How are you?" where it came to mean "good enough." Usage NotesStill heard in the South and Appalachia, though mostly among older generations. It gives everyday talk a plain, humble flavor that outsiders often find charming. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "tah-lur-bul." The middle syllables blur together in Southern speech. | ...
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