Her’n

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "her’n" means "hers" - a possessive form that comes from blending "her one." It’s part of the same family as "his’n" and "your’n."

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #BlendedWords #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

This one is the same as 'his'n' - I still hear it some, but more so growing up.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

This one is the same as 'his'n' - I still hear it some, but more so growing up.

Pronunciation

[HUR-uhn]

Meaning & Usage

- Hers / Belonging to Her (pronoun)

Earl:

That garden spot over there - is it yours?

Ruby:

Nope, that’s her’n.

Mae:

My patch is small, but her’n stretches clear to the creek.

variations: her’n, hern, her one

★ "Her’n" usually shows up in casual country speech, alongside "his’n" and "your’n." It makes speech sound extra folksy and down-home. ★

Origin and Etymology

Built from "her" plus "one" - as in "that one is hers." Appalachian and Southern speech often adds -n endings like this, giving us "his’n," "her’n," "your’n," and even "our’n." The pattern dates back to Scots-Irish influence in American English.

Usage Notes

"Her’n" is mostly spoken and rarely written outside of dialect writing. You’ll often hear it in family talk, oral storytelling, or when people want to sound especially homespun.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say "her" as usual, then add a quick "’n" like in "one." It comes out as "hur’n," almost one syllable. The tone is often matter-of-fact when pointing out who something belongs to.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "her’n" proper English?

Not in formal grammar, but it’s authentic Appalachian and Southern dialect.

Does it mean the same as "hers"?

Yes, it’s just the dialect form.

Do people still say "her’n"?

Yes, though it’s more common among older speakers and in rural areas.

Are there other words like it?

Yep - "his’n," "your’n," and "our’n" follow the same pattern.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 17). Her’n. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hern
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Her’n." HillbillySlang.com, 17 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hern.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Her’n." HillbillySlang.com. August 17, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/hern.

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