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An’em Play audio

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."

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #PeopleandRelationships   #BlendedWords   #Southern

Pronunciation

[AN-im]

Meaning & Usage

- And them, the rest (contraction/phrase)

Talking about a family
Mae:
How’s >Mom’an’em doin’?

Earl:
They’re fine, just busy puttin’ up corn.

variations: ’n’em, and them, Mom’an’em, Daddy’an’em, you’an’em, 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 and Etymology

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."

Usage 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

Play audio Say it loose: "an’em." Works best when attached to somebody’s name - "Mom’an’em," "John’an’em."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

What does "Mom’an’em" mean?
It means "Mom and the rest of the family." Or maybe her brothers and sisters, it all really depends on the context.
Can it follow anyone’s name?
Yes - "John’an’em" means John and whoever’s with him.
Is it still used today?
Absolutely. It’s one of those small dialect pieces that keeps daily speech colorful.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 25). An’em. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/an-em
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "An’em." HillbillySlang.com, 25 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/an-em.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "An’em." HillbillySlang.com. August 25, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/an-em.
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