his’n

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "his’n" means "his" - a possessive form that comes from blending "his one." It’s a folksy, old-fashioned way of showing ownership.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I grew up hearing 'his'n all the time from my Dad. It's mainly old timers now.

Pronunciation

[HIZ-uhn]

Meaning & Usage

- His / Belonging to Him (pronoun)

Earl:

Is that tractor yours?

Mae:

Nope, that’s his’n.

Ruby:

My garden’s small, but his’n is twice the size.

other spellings: his’n, hisen, and his one

★ "His’n" usually shows up in rural or older speech, often alongside similar forms like "her’n" and "your’n." Together they make a whole dialect family of possessives. ★

Origin

Formed by blending "his" with "one" - as in "that one is his." This pattern (adding -n) shows up across Appalachian and Southern English, creating words like "her’n" and "your’n." These contractions have been around since at least the 1800s.

Notes

"His’n" is informal and rarely written outside of dialect, but it’s still heard in storytelling, songs, and rural communities. It often carries a nostalgic or homey tone.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say "his" like normal, then tack on a soft "’n" (like "one" without the "o"). Together it sounds like "hiz-un." The rhythm is quick, almost like a single syllable.

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Common Questions

Is "his’n" proper English?

Not in formal grammar, but it’s perfectly proper in Appalachian and Southern conversation.

Does it mean the same as "his"?

Yes - it’s just a dialect way of saying it, often with extra emphasis.

Are there other words like it?

Yep - "her’n" (hers), "your’n" (yours), and even "our’n" (ours).

Do people still say it today?

Yes, though less often than in the past. You’ll still hear it in rural areas and in families where the speech has been passed down.