an’em
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "an’em" (short for "and them") is a clipped expression that tags along after a name to mean "and the rest of them." Most often heard in phrases like "Mom’an’em."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you see a crew you used to run with, you might say, 'I seen John an’em down at t'store.' This one is ubiquitous down here. Pronunciation
[AN-im]
Meaning & Usage
- And them, the rest (contraction/phrase)
Mae:
How’s >Mom’an’em doin’?
How’s >Mom’an’em doin’?
Earl:
They’re fine, just busy puttin’ up corn.
They’re fine, just busy puttin’ up corn.other spellings: ’n’em, and them, Mom’an’em, Daddy’an’em, you’an’em, and ``the rest of them``
★ "An’em" nearly always follows a person’s name. On its own, it means "and them," but in practice it means "and the family" or "and the folks with ’em." ★
Origin
From plain "and them." In Appalachian and Southern speech, the words ran together until "and them" became "an’em." "Mom’an’em" grew into a stock phrase meaning "Mom and the rest of the family."
Notes
Still common in Appalachia and the South, especially in family talk. "Mom’an’em" is the most recognizable, but it can attach to almost any name.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it loose: "an’em." Works best when attached to somebody’s name - "Mom’an’em," "John’an’em."