Yinz

"Yinz" is a plural form of "you," heard in parts of Appalachia and famously in Pittsburgh. It’s a cousin of "you’uns" and "yuns," all descended from the Scots-Irish phrase "you ones."

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #BlendedWords #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard it all the ways, including 'yinz.'

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard it all the ways, including 'yinz.'

Pronunciation

[YINZ]

Meaning & Usage

- Plural You / You All (pronoun)

Ruby:

Yinz goin’ fishin’ this evenin’?

Earl:

Reckon so, if the bait shop’s still open.

variations: yinz, yunz, you ones, you’uns

★ Don’t be surprised to hear "yinz" outside Pittsburgh. Country folks in parts of Appalachia still use it right alongside "you’uns" and "yuns." ★

Origin and Etymology

All these forms trace back to Scots-Irish settlers who brought the phrase "you ones" to America. In southern Appalachia, it turned into "you’uns" and "yuns." In western Pennsylvania, it blended differently, becoming "yinz." The overlap shows how Appalachian and Pittsburgh speech share the same roots.

Usage Notes

In Pittsburgh, "yinz" is a badge of local pride - tied up with Steelers football and "dahntahn" talk. In Appalachian communities, it shows up more quietly, mixed in with "yuns" and "you’uns," still carrying that same homespun plural sense of "you all."

Say It Like a Southerner

Start with "yin" (rhymes with "pin") and tack on a buzzing "z." In the mountains it might sound softer, blending into "yunz," while in Pittsburgh it’s sharp and proud, often shouted in chants and cheers.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "yinz" the same as "you’uns"?

They’re cousins. Both come from "you ones," but "yinz" is more tied to Pittsburgh, while "you’uns" is classic Appalachian.

Do people still say "yinz"?

Absolutely - it’s alive in Pittsburgh and in pockets of Appalachia too.

Is "yinz" slang or dialect?

Dialect. It’s a regional way of saying "you (plural)."

Can you use "yinz" and "y’all" the same way?

Yes - both are plural forms of "you." Which you use depends on where you’re from.

How to Cite This Page

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

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