Haint
In Southern and Appalachian speech, a "haint" is a ghost, spirit, or restless soul. The word shows up in old-time stories, superstitions, and even house paint traditions meant to ward them off.
synonyms: ghost, spirit, spook, apparition
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I always think of the lyric 'ain't no haint gonna run me off,' but that's not a belief I hold. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I always think of the lyric 'ain't no haint gonna run me off,' but that's not a belief I hold. Pronunciation
[HAYNT]
/heɪnt/
/heɪnt/
Meaning & Usage
- Ghost or restless spirit (noun)
Clara:
Don’t be out past midnight - them haints roam after dark.
Don’t be out past midnight - them haints roam after dark.variations: ha’nt
★ Somebody says they see a haint? Run. Ask questions later. ★
Origin and Etymology
From an older pronunciation of "haunt," meaning a spirit that lingers. The form "haint" is especially tied to Southern and Appalachian dialects, surviving in folklore and superstition.
Usage Notes
- Haint is most common in ghost stories and folk beliefs across the South and Appalachia.
- In the Lowcountry, porches were painted "haint blue" to keep spirits away - a tradition with African and Caribbean roots that blended into Southern folklore.
- Do not confuse this with haint as a rural pronunciation of ain’t; that is a different usage entirely.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
- Booger Man
- Folklore: Bellamy Bridge Ghost - Southern Folklore and Florida Panhandle Legend
- Folklore: Brown Mountain Lights - Appalachian Mystery and Southern Folklore
- Folklore: Mothman - Appalachian Folklore and West Virginia Legend
- Folklore: The Bell Witch - Famous Southern Ghost Story and Folklore
- Folklore: Wampus Cat - Appalachian Monster and Southern Folklore
- Scared Half to Death
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 24). Haint. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/haint
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Haint." HillbillySlang.com, 24 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/haint.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Haint." HillbillySlang.com. October 24, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/haint.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...