I might should
I probably ought to, said soft so it don't sound bossy.
Also called might should.
Updated September 24, 2026
I might should pronunciation
/eye mite SHOOD/
Meaning
A Southern double modal: might stacked on should. It means you think you ought to do something, but you are leaving yourself a little wiggle room. Same family as might could. Used for polite advice too: "You might should take a jacket." Softer than a flat "I should" or "you should."
How folks use it
- “I might should get that truck looked at before we leave.”
- “You might should call Mama before she hears it from somebody else.”
Origin and etymology
Part of Southern and Appalachian double-modal talk, likely tied to Scots and northern British patterns that settlers brought south. Linguists treat pairs like might should and might could as real dialect grammar, not a slip. The first modal softens the second so the suggestion keeps face.
Frequently asked questions
Is I might should bad English?
It is nonstandard in textbook English, but it is normal Southern dialect. Speakers use it on purpose to hedge a should.