<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732713</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELLSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189568</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORGAN CHARLES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1155 PEACHTREE STREET, NE, SUITE 2002</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30309</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>General Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Deferral Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3821.516</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.862</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2019-01-16</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2024-01-16</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3821.516</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12137.951</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK CONVERT TO COMMON STOCK ON A ONE-FOR-ONE BASIS. </footnote><footnote id="F2">PAID OUT 1/5TH PER YEAR BEGINNING 2019.</footnote><footnote id="F3">INCLUDES PHANTOM SHARES ACQUIRED UNDER THE BELLSOUTH COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PLAN AND AS A RESULT OF REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS ACCRUED ON PHANTOM SHARES PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED UNDER VARIOUS DEFERRAL PLANS IN TRANSACTIONS EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3 AND DEFERRED INTO PHANTOM ACCOUNT. </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles R. Morgan</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-12-31
0000732713
BELLSOUTH CORP
BLS
0001189568
MORGAN CHARLES R
1155 PEACHTREE STREET, NE, SUITE 2002
ATLANTA
GA
30309
0
1
0
0
General Counsel
Phantom Deferral Shares
2003-12-31
4
A
0
3821.516
26.862
A
2019-01-16
2024-01-16
Common Stock
3821.516
12137.951
D
SHARES OF PHANTOM STOCK CONVERT TO COMMON STOCK ON A ONE-FOR-ONE BASIS.
PAID OUT 1/5TH PER YEAR BEGINNING 2019.
INCLUDES PHANTOM SHARES ACQUIRED UNDER THE BELLSOUTH COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PLAN AND AS A RESULT OF REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS ACCRUED ON PHANTOM SHARES PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED UNDER VARIOUS DEFERRAL PLANS IN TRANSACTIONS EXEMPT UNDER RULE 16b-3 AND DEFERRED INTO PHANTOM ACCOUNT.
Charles R. Morgan
2004-01-05