"Amongst" is an older English form of "among." In Southern and Appalachian speech, it has survived longer than in most other regions, often showing up in church talk or everyday conversation.
If you're out in the country, you'll hear 'amongst' used.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you're out in the country, you'll hear 'amongst' used.
Pronunciation
[uh-MUHNGST uhs] /əˈmʌŋst əs/
Meaning & Usage
- In the company of / within our group (prepositional phrase)
Everyday use
Clara:
There’s a traitor amongst us, stirring up trouble.
Origin and Etymology
From Middle English, where amongst developed as a variant of among with the added "-st" ending. While amongst remained standard in British English, in American English it gradually fell out of common use. It lingered in Southern and Appalachian speech, influenced by the region’s close ties to older Biblical and rural English forms.
Usage Notes
Amongst is widely recognized as old-fashioned or poetic in modern American English.
In the South and Appalachia, amongst has remained natural in both religious and everyday speech.
Though not unique to the South, its survival there makes it a hallmark of regional dialect and old-time talk.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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...
If you're out in the country, you'll hear 'amongst' used. 
