Redneck slang, the T words
43 redneck slang words that start with T. Open one for the pronunciation, the meaning, and a short origin.
tail
To follow somebody close, often to see where they go.
tall tale
A stretched yarn where the truth gets bigger every telling.
taters
Potatoes — the everyday Southern and mountain word.
tee-nincy
Extremely tiny; smaller than teeny.
teetotal
Not drinking any alcohol, not even a beer.
thang
Thing, said the Southern way.
thankee
Thank you, said short and old-timey.
that dog won't hunt
That plan, excuse, or idea ain't gonna work.
that'un
That one; the one over there.
thataway
That way: in that direction, or done like that.
the bottoms
Low ground along a river or creek — good dirt, flood risk.
the four-lane
The big divided highway, set against the old two-lane road.
the hole
A remote hollow or low spot way back off the main road.
the house
Home, said the Southern way instead of "home."
the interstate
The big federal highway — not the two-lane home road.
the mange
A mite skin disease in dogs and stock, or anything looking that ragged.
the Walmarks
Walmart — said with a Southern twist and usually a "the."
their'n
Theirs; the thing that belongs to them.
theirself
Themselves. Dialect reflexive for they.
they's
They are; also often "there is" or "there are" in mountain talk.
this'un
This one — the near one you are pointing at.
thisaway
This way — come or point in this direction.
throwed
Threw or thrown. Dialect past of throw.
thumper
A big gun or anything that hits with a hard thump.
Thunder Road
A fast moonshine-running route, loud engines and all.
tickled
Pleased, delighted, or cracked up laughing.
tommytoe
A little tomato, especially a cherry or volunteer garden tomato.
tore up
Busted, worn out, drunk, or emotionally wrecked, depending on context.
torge
Toward. Dialect spelling of how some mountain folks say it.
tote
To carry something, usually in your arms, on your back, or on your shoulder.
touch
A little bit — by feel, not by measuring spoon.
tough'un
A tough one: a hard person, animal, or stretch of luck.
towheaded
Having very light blond or flax-colored hair, often said of kids.
trade
To do regular business at a store, or to work a craft for a living.
traipsing
Wandering around, often in a way that gets you fussed at.
treed
Chased up a tree or cornered there by hunting dogs.
trifling
Lazy, no-account, or not worth the fuss.
tromping
Walking heavy and noisy, often through mud or across clean floors.
tuckered out
Worn out; too tired to do much of anything.
tump
Tip something over — lemonade, canoe, or a stack of feed.
turn
To change, spoil, or work out a certain way.
turnt
Wound up, wild, or drunk, like a night that got loud.
twicet
Twice, with an extra t on the end like mountain folks say it.