big’un
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.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
This is one of those common, everday words - I use 'big’un' all the time. Pronunciation
[BIG-uhn]
Meaning & Usage
- A large person, animal, or object (noun)
Sam:
Look at that catfish - that’s a big’un!
Look at that catfish - that’s a big’un!
Earl:
Biggest I’ve seen all season.
Biggest I’ve seen all season.- A grown child (noun)
Grandma:
The little one’s asleep, but the big’un can help set the table.
The little one’s asleep, but the big’un can help set the table.other spellings: big one, biggun, big’un, large, grown-up, and full-sized
★ "Big’un" is often paired with "little’un," giving a simple way to distinguish between siblings, kids, or sizes of things. ★
Origin
From the phrase "big one." In Appalachian and Southern speech, "one" often softens to "’un," creating forms like "little’un" and "big’un."
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
Said quick and easy, like one word: "bigg-uhn." The "one" part is shortened to just "’un."