Betwixt

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "betwixt" is an older form of "between," meaning "in the middle of" or "separating two things." It survives in everyday talk and especially in phrases like "betwixt and between."

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I grew up hearin' my Momma use 'betwixt,' but I don't hear it as much as I used to. I do use it myself from time to time.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I grew up hearin' my Momma use 'betwixt,' but I don't hear it as much as I used to. I do use it myself from time to time.

Pronunciation

[bih-TWIKST]
/bɪˈtwɪkst/

Meaning & Usage

- Between or in the middle of (preposition/adverb)

Mae:

Where’s the cabin?

Earl:

Betwixt the big oak and the old well.

variations: between, amid, among, ’twixt (older form)

★ "Betwixt" is the Middle English ancestor of "between." Southern/Appalachian speech kept it alive long after it faded from standard American English. You’ll also hear "’twixt" as an even older, shorter form. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Old English "betwix" (between). Documented in regional word lists as especially common in the South and South Midland. Survived in Appalachian and rural Southern speech where older British terms lingered.

Usage Notes

Still heard today among older speakers and in nostalgic or humorous writing. Outside the region it reads as quaint or old-fashioned but is easily understood. See also Betwixt and Between for the classic idiom.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: often clipped to "’twixt" in very old-fashioned speech ("’twixt you and me").

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it mean exactly the same as "between"?

Yes-just an older form, now mostly regional or poetic.

Is "’twixt" different?

It’s simply an even shorter form you’ll hear in very old-fashioned or humorous speech.

Where is it still used?

Most strongly in the South and Appalachia, but understood everywhere.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 20). Betwixt . HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/betwixt
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Betwixt ." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/betwixt.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Betwixt ." HillbillySlang.com. September 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/betwixt.