hollering

Hollering refers to the act of producing a loud, often prolonged shout or cry, typically to attract attention, communicate over distance, or express strong emotion. The term is used as both a verb (hollering) and a noun (a holler or hollering). It is most commonly associated with rural and Southern American English, especially in Appalachian regions, where hollering can occur across a hollow or valley. The word holler can denote the geographical feature as well as the shout, reflecting the historical practice of calling to neighbors across a distance.

The exact origin of the term is uncertain, but the verb to holler is attested in English from early modern times and is often regarded as onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of a shout. The dialect noun holler for a valley is native to the Appalachian region; the two senses are linked by the practice of calling out across a hollow.

Hollering serves practical purposes—summoning someone, warning of danger, or signaling presence—as well as social ones, such as greeting, celebration, or competition. In some communities, hollering contests and call-and-response hollers are traditional forms of expression, reflecting a cultural emphasis on vocal engagement and communal interaction.

In casual speech, hollering can be playful or affectionate, and in various forms of music and storytelling it can intensify emotional delivery. The concept is also represented in literature and film as a signal of rural life, communal bonds, or ancestral speech traditions.

Related terms include yell, shout, call-and-response, and holler (valley).