What You Say There?

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "Wah ya say thur?" (standard "What do you say there?") is a friendly greeting - like "Howdy" or "What’s up?" It’s an old-time conversational opener that signals friendliness more than a literal question.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern

synonyms: hello, greeting

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Growin' up, there wasn't a time I saw Elmer and he didn't say ‘wah ya say thur?.' You hear this one out in the country.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Growin' up, there wasn't a time I saw Elmer and he didn't say ‘wah ya say thur?.' You hear this one out in the country.

Pronunciation

[WAH yuh SAY thur]

Meaning & Usage

- A friendly greeting or conversational opener (interjection)

Mae:

Wah ya say thur?

Earl:

Just headed to town, how ’bout you?

variations: What do you say there?, Whadya say thar?, Wha’ d’ya say?

★ "Wah ya say thur?" isn’t meant literally. It’s a porch-style way of saying "Hey there" or "Howdy" that once opened many a conversation in rural towns. ★

Origin and Etymology

From older Scots-Irish English greetings ("What do you say?") carried into Appalachian and Southern dialect. The vowel shifts ("wah" for "what," "thur" for "there") reflect authentic regional pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Still heard among older Southerners and Appalachians, especially men greeting each other casually. Outside the region it’s rare, and younger speakers often don’t recognize it.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "wah yuh say thur?" - a quick, friendly greeting rather than an actual question.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it actually expect an answer?

Not usually - it’s just a way of saying hello.

Is it uniquely Southern?

Strongest in Southern/Appalachian speech; older but recognizable elsewhere in rural areas.

Is there a standard spelling?

No - "Wah ya say thur" is a phonetic capture of "What do you say there."

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 24). What You Say There?. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/what-you-say-there
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "What You Say There?." HillbillySlang.com, 24 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/what-you-say-there.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "What You Say There?." HillbillySlang.com. September 24, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/what-you-say-there.

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