your’n

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

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I asked if that patch of beans was mine, and Earl said, "Nope - it’s your’n."

Pronunciation

[YUR-uhn]

Meaning & Usage

- Yours / Belonging to You (pronoun)

Mae:

Is that basket of apples mine?

Earl:

No, that’s your’n sittin’ there.

Ruby:

I got my quilt, and you got your’n.

other spellings: your’n, yourn, and your one

★ "Your’n" often shows up when folks are dividing, pointing out, or handing over something. It pairs naturally with "his’n" and "her’n." ★

Origin

Formed by blending "your" with "one" - as in "that one is yours." This -n ending pattern shows up across Appalachian and Southern English, giving us "his’n," "her’n," "our’n," and "your’n." It reflects older speech habits passed down from Scots-Irish settlers.

Notes

"You’rn" is rarely written in formal English, but it’s alive in storytelling, family conversation, and dialect-rich writing. Writers use it to capture Appalachian authenticity.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say "your" as usual, then add a quick "’n" (like in "one" without the "o"). It rolls together as "yur’n." In casual mountain talk, it’s nearly one syllable.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "your’n" proper English?

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

Does it mean the same as "yours"?

Yes - it’s the dialect version, often sounding warmer or more informal.

Do people still say it?

Yes, though mostly in rural areas or among older speakers.

Are there other words like it?

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