In Appalachian and Southern speech, "wootun" is a dialect contraction of "wouldn’t" or "wouldn’t it/he." It’s a natural slurred form heard in everyday conversation, especially among older speakers.
"He wootun leave his coon dog behind." (He wouldn’t leave his coon dog behind.)
Hillbilly Dude Says...
"He wootun leave his coon dog behind." (He wouldn’t leave his coon dog behind.)
Pronunciation
[WOOT-un] or [WUD-n]
Meaning & Usage
- Contraction of "wouldn’t" (dialect verb form)
Talking about refusal
Mae:
He refused?
Earl:
Yes - he wootun go.
- Tag-question form of "wouldn’t it/ wouldn’t he" (dialect)
Commenting on weather
Mae:
Be nice to sit on the porch, wootun?
variations: wudd’n, woodn’t
★ "Wootun" (or "wudd’n") is a hallmark of Southern/Appalachian casual speech. It’s not a mistake but a natural contraction reflecting older sound patterns, just like "ittun" from "it isn’t." ★
Origin and Etymology
Found in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies, this is a reduced form of "wouldn’t" or "wouldn’t it/he," illustrating how everyday speech simplifies sounds over time.
Usage Notes
Still heard among older Southerners and in rural communities. Outside the region it’s rare and usually recognized only from dialect writing or storytelling.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "wootun" or "wudd’n." Often in sentences like "He wootun go" or "Nice day, wootun?"
It’s nonstandard but authentic dialect - a natural speech form, not a deliberate error.
Can it mean both "wouldn’t" and "wouldn’t it/he"?
Yes - context tells you which one.
Do people still say it today?
Yes - especially older Southerners and Appalachian speakers, though it’s fading among younger generations.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 20). Wootun. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/wootun
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Wootun." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/wootun.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Wootun." HillbillySlang.com. September 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/wootun.
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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...
"He wootun leave his coon dog behind." (He wouldn’t leave his coon dog behind.) 
