shaller
Not deep — how rural Southern folks say shallow.
Also called shallower, shallow.
Updated September 24, 2026
shaller pronunciation
/SHAL-er/
Meaning
Describes water, a ditch, or a place that won't cover your boots. You hear it most about creeks, branches, and ponds when somebody is picking a crossing or a fishing spot. It can also mean one spot is less deep than another, like the glossary sense "shallower." Same word can shade a person or a talk that has no heft to it.
How folks use it
- “That ford's shaller enough to walk the truck across.”
- “Fish ain't biting here — water's too shaller.”
Origin and etymology
Appalachian and South Midland pronunciation of "shallow," with the middle vowel flattened the same way "holler" comes from "hollow." The Dictionary of American Regional English records it across Kentucky, Tennessee, western North Carolina, Georgia, and nearby country. Older talk also had "shaller off" for a stream that gets thin.
Frequently asked questions
Is shaller a different word from shallow?
No. Same meaning. It is just how the word comes out in a lot of rural Southern and mountain speech.