<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732713</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELLSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013644</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ACKERMAN F DUANE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12943</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>26.56</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>281973</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">REPRESENTS SHARES WITHHELD FROM VESTED RESTRICTED STOCK FOR THE PAYMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE TAXES DUE ON VESTING. </footnote><footnote id="F2">9,562.2673 SHARES ARE ALSO HELD INDIRECTLY IN ESOP.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>F.D. Ackerman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-05-30
0000732713
BELLSOUTH CORP
BLS
0001013644
ACKERMAN F DUANE
1
1
0
0
Chairman and CEO
Common Stock
2003-05-30
4
F
0
12943
26.56
D
281973
D
REPRESENTS SHARES WITHHELD FROM VESTED RESTRICTED STOCK FOR THE PAYMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE TAXES DUE ON VESTING.
9,562.2673 SHARES ARE ALSO HELD INDIRECTLY IN ESOP.
F.D. Ackerman
2003-06-02