behoove
Be wise or proper for somebody — the polite way to say you'd better.
Also called behove.
Updated September 21, 2026
behoove pronunciation
/bih-HOOV/
Meaning
Usually shows up as "it would behoove you" meaning it is in your interest, or it is the right move. In Southern and Appalachian talk it does not sound fancy. It is everyday advice with a little starch, the kind of warning your daddy gives before you do something dumb.
How folks use it
- “It'd behoove you to get that truck inspected before deer season traffic hits.”
- “Might behoove him to keep his mouth shut at the county meeting.”
Origin and etymology
From Old English behōfian, "to have need of," tied to behoof (use or advantage). Not related to a horse's hoof, even though it looks that way. The word is older than America, but rural Southern and Appalachian speech kept it in daily use after a lot of other places parked it in formal writing.
Frequently asked questions
Does behoove mean you have to do it?
Not quite an order. It means you would be smart to do it, or that it is fitting. Skip it and you may regret it.