definitions

eye dialect

noun

the literary use of misspellings that are intended to convey a speaker's lack of education or use of humorously dialectal pronunciations but that are actually no more than respellings of standard pronunciations, as wimmin for “women,” wuz for “was,” and peepul for “people.”

RELATED CONTENT

3 Easy Tips For Writing Realistic DialectsMany writers use dialects to enhance realism in their stories, especially for characters in specific locations. However, it’s easy to overuse or misuse dialects if you aren't careful. To use them correctly, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind.
READ MORE
pink eyeRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Nearby words

eye bank, eye bath, eye candy, eye chart, eye contact, eye dialect, eye doctor, eye dog, eye drops, eye for an eye, an, eye lens
Compare pronunciation spelling.

Origin of eye dialect

First recorded in 1920–25

Usage note

Eye Dialect is used as a label for such misspellings in this dictionary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019