dittun
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "dittun" is a dialect contraction of "doesn’t" or "doesn’t it/doesn’t he." It’s a natural slurred form heard in everyday conversation, especially among older speakers.
synonyms: doesn’t, does not
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'm not sure I've said 'doesn't' a single time in my life - it's always 'dittun.' Pronunciation
[DID-un] or [DUD-n]
Meaning & Usage
- Contraction of "doesn’t" (dialect verb form)
Mae:
He doesn’t like the pie?
He doesn’t like the pie?
Earl:
No - he dittun.
No - he dittun.- Tag-question form of "doesn’t it/doesn’t he" (dialect)
Mae:
That car goes fast, dittun?
That car goes fast, dittun?other spellings: dittin
★ "Dittun" (or "dudd’n") is a hallmark of Southern/Appalachian casual speech. It’s not a mistake but a natural contraction reflecting older sound patterns, just like "ittun" evolved from "it isn’t." ★
Origin
Documented in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies and the Dictionary of American Regional English. Represents a reduced form of "doesn’t" or "doesn’t it/he," showing how everyday speech simplifies sounds over time.
Notes
Still heard among older Southerners and in rural communities. Outside the region it’s rare and usually recognized only from dialect writing or storytelling.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "dittun" or "dudd’n." Often in sentences like "He dittun like it" or "Runs fast, dittun?"