Done Gone
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "done" is used as a helping word to show that something has already happened or is fully completed. In phrases like "he’s done gone," "she’s done told," or "they done left," the word "done" adds certainty, emphasis, or finality.
Out in the country 'done gone' is a common standard. Out in the country 'done gone' is a common standard. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Perfective auxiliary (done + verb)
Where’s Ray?He’s done gone to town.They done et before we even got here.- Used for emphasis or finality
You reckon they’ll patch things up?No, honey-he’s done gone.Origin and Etymology
From older English and Scots-Irish speech patterns brought to the American South in the 1700s. In these dialects, "done" was used as a perfective auxiliary-marking that an action was complete. Appalachian and Southern English preserved and expanded the use, often adding emotional weight or finality. Phrases like "done gone" and "done told" remain hallmarks of the regional grammar.
Usage Notes
Still widely recognized across the South and Appalachia. Used in storytelling, conversation, and music to mark completion or certainty.
- "They done gone home." → They’ve already left.
- "She done told you once." → She’s already told you.
- "I done seen it with my own eyes." → I’ve already seen it.