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Big’un Play audio

In Appalachian and Southern talk, "big’un" means "big one." It’s a casual contraction that rolls together in mountain speech and is often used for people, animals, or objects.

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Measurements   #BlendedWords   #Southern   #BodyandHealth

Pronunciation

[BIG-uhn]

Meaning & Usage

- A large person, animal, or object (noun)

Harvest time
Elmer:
Look at 'at mushmelon - that’s a big’un!

Estel:
Biggest I’ve seen in a month of Sundays.

- A grown child (noun)

Family talk
Meemaw:
The littleun’s asleep, but the big’un can help set the table.

variations: big one, bigguns, big’un, big’uns
★ "Big’un" is often paired with "little’un," giving a simple way to distinguish between siblings, kids, or sizes of things. ★

Origin and Etymology

From the phrase "big one." In Appalachian and Southern speech, "one" often softens to "’un," creating forms like "little’un" and "big’un."

Usage Notes

Still common in Appalachian families and rural Southern communities. You’ll hear it often when folks are comparing sizes - of kids, fish, dogs, or anything else.

Say It Like a Southerner

Play audio Said quick and easy, like one word: "bigg-uhn." The "one" part is shortened to just "’un."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is bigun or biggun?
As long as people can read it, it's fine. But we spell it "big'un."
Is "big’un" only used for people?
No - it can describe animals, kids, or just about anything that’s large.
What’s the opposite of "big’un"?
"Little’un," meaning little one.
Is it considered proper English?
Not in formal writing - but it’s deeply natural in spoken Appalachian and Southern English.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Big’un. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/bigun
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Big’un." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/bigun.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Big’un." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/bigun.
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