His’n
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "his’n" means "his" - a possessive form that comes from blending "his one." It’s a folksy, old-fashioned way of showing ownership.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearing 'his'n all the time from my Dad. It's mainly old timers now. Pronunciation
[HIZ-uhn]
Meaning & Usage
- His / Belonging to Him (pronoun)
Earl:
Is that tractor yours?
Is that tractor yours?
Mae:
Nope, that’s his’n.
Nope, that’s his’n.
Ruby:
My garden’s small, but his’n is twice the size.
My garden’s small, but his’n is twice the size.variations: his’n, hisen, his one
★ "His’n" usually shows up in rural or older speech, often alongside similar forms like "her’n" and "your’n." Together they make a whole dialect family of possessives. ★
Origin
Formed by blending "his" with "one" - as in "that one is his." This pattern (adding -n) shows up across Appalachian and Southern English, creating words like "her’n" and "your’n." These contractions have been around since at least the 1800s.
Notes
"His’n" is informal and rarely written outside of dialect, but it’s still heard in storytelling, songs, and rural communities. It often carries a nostalgic or homey tone.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say "his" like normal, then tack on a soft "’n" (like "one" without the "o"). Together it sounds like "hiz-un." The rhythm is quick, almost like a single syllable.