In Southern and Appalachian speech, his’n means "his" or "belonging to him." It’s an older dialect form created by adding a natural-sounding ending to "his," a holdover from older English speech patterns.
I grew up hearing "his’n" all the time from my Dad. It's mainly old-timers now.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearing "his’n" all the time from my Dad. It's mainly old-timers now.
Pronunciation
[HIZ-uhn]
/ˈhɪz.ən/
Meaning & Usage
- His / Belonging to Him (pronoun)
Pointing out ownership
Earl:
Is that tractor yours?
Mae:
Nope, that’s his’n.
Comparing possessions
Ruby:
My garden’s small, but his’n is twice the size.
variations: hisen, his one, his’n
★ "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 and Etymology
Formed by blending "his" with "one" - as in "that one is his." The added -n pattern traces back to older British and Scots-Irish English, which heavily influenced Appalachian speech. These possessive forms - "his’n," "her’n," "your’n," and "our’n" - were recorded in regional dialect writing as early as the mid-1800s and remain familiar in traditional storytelling.
Usage Notes
Common in Appalachian and rural Southern talk, his’n feels natural in speech but rarely appears in writing except to show dialect. It’s often nostalgic or affectionate, and it’s part of a larger family of -n possessives that express familiarity and homegrown rhythm.
That’s his’n over yonder. - "That one belongs to him."
Mine’s smaller, but his’n runs better. - informal comparison.
Don’t touch that - that’s his’n. - ownership warning or reminder.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
I grew up hearing "his’n" all the time from my Dad. It's mainly old-timers now. 
