There Is An Appalachian Word For Crooked That Is Better Than Crooked. Sigogglin.

Indexed: 2026-05-16

Sigogglin. It means crooked, off kilter, not plumb, leaning in a direction it was not supposed to lean. But there is something in it that plain old crooked does not carry. Something almost fond. Like the word understands that the thing being described has developed its own character over time and that character deserves acknowledgment. Appalachian people understood that not everything needed to be perfect to be functional. A sigogglin thing that works is still a thing that works. And sometimes sigogglin is just the shape something takes when it has been living in these mountains long enough. This is the Appalachian Word Series celebrating the living dialect of mountain culture one word at a time. 🏔️ Appalachian — The Mountain Way | Appalachian Word Series 👇 What is the most sigogglin thing you ever built or lived with? Tell us below. #AppalachianWord #Sigogglin #Appalachia #WestVirginia #MountainWay