They! Look at the yellow root a growing.
Several weeks ago Sandra sent me the following email.
Today someone said, “they….” it was replying to something I said, as if in disbelief. Instead of, you don’t say?!?!?
They just said, they…sort of at a loss for words or disbelief.
I wondered if you’ve ever heard it. I even wonder about the spelling.
I’ve heard folks use the word they in that manner my whole life. In fact I use it like that myself.
A quick look in The Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English showed this entry.
they interjection Used as an exclamation of exasperation, surprise, or consternation.
1961 Williams Content Mt Speech 15 They, Lord! That little witty was as purty a baby up till hit was a set-along child as I ever laid eyes on. 1969 Doran Folklore White Co 98 When friends come, [a White Countian] may greet them in the driveway, if he has time to get there, saying, “Git right out of there and come in.” If he knows visitors very well, he may say, “They, look what the cat drug in.” 1971 Granny Women 261 I was might’near froze t’death when I got there. And the’wind a’blowin’ —they, my goodness! 1973 Flu Epidemic 102 They, Lord. Now that’s th’truth if ever I’ve said it. 1976 Thompson Touching Home 17 they Lord = a cry of surprise. 1981 Williams Storytelling “They Lord’a mercy, there that there thing comes right behind us” (incidentally, they there means “thou”). 1992 Morgan Potato Branch 39 They lordy me. Them bulls tore down that fence and liked to kill each other. 1997 Frazier Cold Mountain 126 He soon stumbled over an old man sitting on a low stool and knocked him onto the floor. The man on the floor said, They damn. 2000 Carden Mason Jars 31 They, hush your mouth. 2005 Williams Gratitude 531 = an exclamation to express surprise or amazement as : “They!” “They, gosh!” or “They, Lordymercy!” 2007 McMillon Notes They, good Lord. 2016 Blind Pig (March 30) It was also common to hear the expression of “They Law” as a response to hearing something unbelievable or astounding.
I’ve heard all the variations mentioned in the entry. Especially common in my area is they Lord and they law.
In the entry there are two spellings for the usage: thay and they. Like Sandra I wonder about which one is correct, sort of like when we say “Why, I haven’t seen you in ages! Where have you been?” Is it Y or Why?
If you’ve read the Blind Pig for a long time you’ve likely read or heard me talk about how I choose things to write about everyday. I have a lot of ideas running around in my head. When I prepare to write a post the various options are thrown randomly up in my mind until one feels right.
Today it was obviously Sandra’s question about the usage of they.
Sometimes I get a serendipitous nod that I chose the right idea.
Today it came from the dictionary entry. The reference to Gratitude is a book titled Gratitude for Shoes. It was written by Cleo Hicks Williams, the sister-n-law of Mrs. Hicks who is featured in the video I posted last night. As if that little coinkydink wasn’t enough, the last portion of the dictionary entry is a quote from this blog.
I like it when things connect like that 🙂
Last night’s video: Mountain Woman Can Drive A Mule But Not A Car | Interview with 96 Year Old (Part 2).
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
This post answered a long time question I’ve had and confirmed what I was thinkin. Mamaw used “thay” or “they” to exclaim surprise or novelty about anything. “Well thay” “Thay Lord!”… I suspected it came right out of the old country from the word thou. You confirmed that for me. Now I don’t have to wonder anymore!
Blessings,
Allison
I used to hear it a lot, but not so much anymore. My Uncle Burt used to to say “you bet!” when he was in agreement with us or was just being a sweet uncle. He was precious indeed!
I can still hear my Nana & Aunt Pearl saying “they law”.
I’ve heard variations of the use of “Law” in place of “Lord”. Had not heard any of the uses of “they” as a part of an exclamation. However, both sides of my family use “say” in most all the examples your readers used “they”.
My co-worker and I were discussing this very “saying” yesterday and I turned her on to The Blind Pig and the Acorn. This morning she told me about today’s post. I remember my parents and older folks saying this and she recalled her grandmother saying it. I remember saying it as I was growing up, but had forgotten about it. Now I’ll have to start using it again!
thank you for more information! sometimes I just have to email you when I hear something now. im glad i did with “they”, as it was a new one to me. however, i have heard “ey lawe” before. is just never hear it alone.
are you going to WCU Heritage day tomorrow? i plan to.
i went to the Franklin fair today. I looked for a cushaw and didnt see one. No rattlesnake beans either…
I now think of you in my travels and feel like you are a constant companion. thank you for all you do. I tell travelers and others about you often.
Sandra- I won’t be able to come tomorrow but I hope you have a great time!
I’ve heard “They Lord ..” but my great grandma used to always just say, “Law ..”
Do you hear “They” used in place of “there” as in “They ain’t no tellin when he’ll show up? “They’s” no reason fir people to act like that!
Ed-I hear that too 🙂
Ed, I will often say “they” instead of “there”.
“They” and “law” are very familiar terms, e.g., they, lawsie me!! Who’s zat coming yonder? It could be the preacher, and it ain’t even a Sunday. Keep those old time words and phrases coming, Tipper. They bring back and help keep alive our very colorful Appalachian language.
Aye Law–my Granny said this. I wonder if it’s another form of “They Lord”?
I don’t remember hearing “they” by itself very much but “they law” or “they lord” was quite common when I was growing up. It’s not a word I use myself but if I heard it, it probably wouldn’t stand out as being unusual.
“They law youngin, you ain’t seen nothin. They’s a bunch of them over on the head of Licklog!”
My family from AL and E. TN often exclaimed “they Lord!” or “they La-a-aw!” Also, my Mother and others often began a statement with Why, as in “Why, no, I’m not goin’ over there.” I’ve often seen this usage written as dialog in non-Appalachian conversation, even British.
I was just watching a YouTube video on Viking language influences to the English language, specifically with regard to pronouns. Apparently “they,” and “them” comes from the Old Norse. Had “they” not raided England and Scotland, you’d likely be saying something else!
I have another question – commonly said after hearing someone sneeze is Bless you. I’ve thought on it for years and my conclusion was if a person sneezes, they may be coming down with a cold. Before we had more powerful drugs available, they could also die. So my thought were that it was politely said to protect them from whatever may happen.
I read many years ago that in earlier times, people believed that your soul could leave your body during a sneeze, so bless you would prevent an evil spirit from taking up the soul’s place.
They, law!
I didn’t think I’d ever heard it before but your comment brings a new light. I use Hey, all the time. Never thought about it but where did it come from? – not from a field of hay! It’s just like They! So I think my usage has evolved from the They usage. I also think the spelling seems more likely to be Thay as it somewhat reminds me of: thee, thine, thou. Don’t know why. Maybe seems like the plural of thee. But why would someone say: Thee? to begin a sentence. Maybe it stems from Mercy me, which I use to hear often before a sentence expressing disbelief or surprise or shock. Almost like the person is asking God to protect them upon learning news.
My family used They Lord… and They law… all the time. I believe They law is a euphemism for They Lord, probably a shortened form of They Lord have mercy, which was an exclamation, not a prayer in the context of daily speech.
I am familiar with “ they law”. I have definitely heard you say it and have read it in many books.
‘Coinkydink’! (What a ‘Coincidence’.) Ha! Makes me smile to see and say that.
‘They, Lawdy.’ Addressing several people at once to tell them something important. May have transitioned from, ‘THEY, LAW’ to ‘HEY, Y’ALL’ over time. Interesting!
Love these posts, stories, blog and vlog! Thanks much.
As a greeting the word “Hey” was the word that was used most in central West Virginia during the 50’s and early 60’s by most of my friends and relatives. Words are an interesting part of any culture.
My Grandmaw over in Lee Co., VA always said “They law”, not “They Lord”. I guess it was a bit too close
to taking the Name in vain to use the more common form!
My mother was from Sand Mountain Alabama and used “they” . And that somewhat confounded our neighbors there in Ohio. Another curiosity she often used was “allow”. As in what did she allow? Asking about what someone had said. Was normal to me but not other folks.
My Mamaw, especially, would use “They, law!” And “They, Lord!”. Mostly “They, law!”, though, as anything with the Lord’s name was sacred, and not to be used lightly.
“They, Lord a’mercy!” is another variant I heard a lot, growing up. Love this blog; it just brings it all right back. It’s like you know where all my memories are hiding.
Well lawsamercy! I haven’t heard “thay/they” used that way since I was wee’un. When it was used, the “th” sound was soft and resembled “say” with a lisp. “Fay” or “fey” was used like “thay” but only when bad news was heard. I wonder if the two are connected? The way words are passed along and misheard, I wouldn’t be surprised.
They or they law is in common usage in these parts.
As a greeting I say, “HI” – My wife says, “HEY”. Our daughter’s first understandable word was, “Hi-ay”.
I heard “They law” a lot while growing up but not so much in recent years.
Did you ever hear the words, “bless paddy” as a way to cuss without cussing? My Irish grandpa used it often and so did my mama.
Brenda-I’ve never heard that but love it 🙂
Mama used to threaten to give us “what Paddy gave the drum”.
I grew up hearing, “Bless Pat!”
She slower’n molasses
I, like Sanford McKinney, have heard hey but never they and quite frankly in my head I’m thinking “they what????” I’m looking to have a finishing end to a one word start of a tale. But in case I am ever in the south and hear this, perhaps I will recall this day’s blog and stay cool knowing sometimes they is used to get one’s attention. I’m always less ignorant after reading your blog than I was only minutes before so thank you for that, Miss Tipper!!!
They law, lawzy me, and law as a question. I still hear those from older folks here in the mountains.
You did it a again. “They” is so very familiar though once again, just because it is, I can not recall a single specific example. My mind would not have a ripple if I heard it unless maybe I was somewhere”off”where I wouldn’t expect to hear it. As mentioned in the citations, in Appalachia it is almost always followed by some form of local use expression such us, “They, would you look at that!” or “They goodness, I ain’t never.”
I’ve posted this before but I think a lot of those kinds of expressions derive from trying to avoid taking the Lord’s name in vain and also avoiding swearing (not cussing swearing but swearing to do or not do something as if we have absolute control). And underlying that was simply being serious about being a Christian and a good example. I value that highly because it makes for an atmosphere of unstressed fellowship. We all know what it feels like to have to “walk on eggs” with whoever one is with.
I remember hearing my mother in law say ” They Lawd” but I never thought much about it. She was challenged pronouncing many words such as humidity (humid), polident(pollen) and many more that I can’t think of right now. She loved me and I loved her. She gave me my greatest blessing, her baby boy ,to be my husband ❤
I’ve not heard the word “they” used as “you don’t say “ or as an expression of disbelief before now. That is interesting and good to know.
Around my neck of the woods”hey” is often used in the way Mr, McKinney writes about. I have never heard “they” used like it is wrote about in today’s post.
I’m familiar with the use of the word “they” in the examples you gave. My mountain granny used so many of the
terms you’ve highlighted for us. I love your channel!
I have never heard they used yjis way. interesting. hey of course was and is an everyday word. I wonder about the origins of they
Interesting. I have used ‘hey’ a lot and find myself adding other words that are from days gone by. Your posts always cause a memory to come to mind. I sometime smile or chuckle and sometime remember who I heard it from or when I said things that you have written about. Sometime it is the ‘Southern’ twang that comes to mind. Eons ago, while sitting on the front porch of a neighbor, she an adult’ asked me to go get her a ‘cheer’. Being an obedient child, I got up and entered her home and retrieved her a box of ‘Cheer’…the kind you used for laundry. I of course brought it out to her and she looked at me like I had lost my mind. What she actually wanted was a ‘chair’. I often smile and think about that lady and of course more memories come flooding back. Thanks Tipper, again.
I heard They and They Lord many times in my youth. Thank you, Blind Pig , for keeping me in mind of phrases that have slipped from my memory. And there is another one- “in mind of”.
The word “they” was used around the mountain folk where I grew up in their everyday conversations.
Many people around here use the word “hey” to get someone’s attention before making a statement or asking a question.
Hey Bobby, did you see that new truck John just bought? Hey Jim, do you want to go fishin tomorrow if the weather is fitin?
I had some friends back years ago that always address me as, hey J, before a question or statement and their young son hear that so many times that he thought my name was actually, “Hey J”.
Sometimes hey is used around here as a greeting the same as hi. Hi Frank or Hey Frank is a common greeting and I expect interchangeable?