southern traits | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

11 Southern Truths That Only Southerners Will Understand

Bless your heart.

443
Personal Photo
Kallee Gambrel

Everyone has adjectives that describe them, some more than others. But in the south, there are certain adjectives that describe almost everyone. Growing up in the south has been, an experience. No matter where I go, my southern roots follow and a piece of home is always with me. Although I was ready to move away and get out of the boonies, there will always be a special place in my heart for my southern home and roots. There are so many things that make a southerner well a southerner, but there are certain things that EVERY down south, hill jack can relate to (if you know, you know).

1. The accent

"Where are you from???" If I've been asked once, I've been asked 1,000,000 times. My response is always the same and the look on their face is also always the same. And if you also have a southern accent, you know the look I'm talking about. No, I didn't use an outhouse growing up, yes I wear shoes, and no I'm not an idiot, I just have a southern accent. People are constantly making comments or repeating what I say. Just so ya know, southern accents are SUPER cute, don't hate.

2. Southern slang

You're in mid-conversation, you say something very off the wall and everyone around you gives you that look again, you then backtrack on your story and explain your usage of southern slang. We all say these strange sayings. The most used slang word is "y'all." I say it AT LEAST 15 times a day. It's a southern thing.

3. Sweet tea

Just to clarify, I dislike sweet tea, but I do love tea. And I think all southerners can agree that they like some sort of tea. Tea is something that can be consumed in many different forms. Hot, cold, green, sweet, unsweet, etc. Tea is like water, you can do a lot to it.

4. Southern brands

In the south, we pride ourselves with amazing clothing brands such as Vineyard Vines, Southern Marsh, Southern Cotton, Lilly Pulitzer, and many more.

5. Southern charm

This is one of my favorites. Being a lady from the south, I love to hear a young boy have good manners. It's also very attractive when an older boy has good manners. And I'm assuming it's the same for a young lady as well. Manners in general are a positive. Holding doors open for people, saying please and thank you, it's beginning to be something of the past and that's very sad.

6. Fourwheeling

If you've never been mudding/fourwheeling, drop everything and go right now. It's SO fun. We call it "riding" where I'm from and everyone goes, literally. Pack a snack and a cooler and you're set, if you have an ATV that is.

7. Southern hospitality

In the south, we take pride in our hospitality. We welcome people into our homes as if they are apart of the family. Not only do we invite people into our homes but we help one another. The amount of times I've walked out of my house on Friday mornings with the trash can already by the road courtesy of our neighbor is unreal. Believe it or not, but I've asked my neighbor for a cup of sugar and she handed it to me with a smile. It's just a southern thing.

8. Big trucks

EVERY guy in the south drives a loud, jacked up truck. They show off in their nice trucks in town to get attention from the ladies, and trust me, the girls like their trucks just as much as they do. And once they grow up to be men, they still drive their jacked up trucks around town and "roll coal" on people.

9. Friday night lights

High school football is one of my favorite things, there's nothing like it. Being under those lights will never get old. I will forever wish I could cheer one more game under the lights. Everyone gives 110%, it's the purest form of competition. And it's some of my favorite memories from my high school years.

10. Saturday college football

We take football in the south VERY seriously. We love our teams, we would die for our teams, we support our teams even when they're loosing. If you're not at the game, you're at a huge cookout to watch the game every Saturday. And if you go to the game you tailgate all day in hopes your team pulls out a win. GO CATS!!

11. Southern cooking

Cornbread, biscuits and gravy, maters, taters, soup beans, and chicken and dumplings. Southern cooking is my favorite thing about being from the south. Everything is cooked in grease and smothered in something. If you've never had anything I mentioned above, then come visit me and I'll make sure you've tried them all.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4321
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450579
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22272
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45173
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments