ittun

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "ittun" is a dialect contraction of "it isn’t" or "isn’t it." It’s a natural slurred form heard in everyday conversation, especially among older speakers.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #BlendedWords #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Most everbody around here uses 'Ittun' instead of 'isn't.'

Pronunciation

[IT-un] or [ID-n]

Meaning & Usage

- Contraction of "it isn’t" or "isn’t it" (dialect verb form)

Mae:

Ittun rainin’ yet?

- Tag-question form of "isn’t it" (dialect)

Mae:

Pretty warm today, ittun?

other spellings: it isn’t, isn’t it, idn’t, it’n

★ "Ittun" (or "idn’t," "it’n") is a hallmark of Southern/Appalachian casual speech. It’s not a mistake but a natural contraction reflecting older Scots-Irish sound patterns. ★

Origin

Documented in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies and the Dictionary of American Regional English. Represents a reduced form of "it isn’t" or "isn’t it," like "ain’t" evolved from "am not."

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: "ittun" or "idn’t," often in sentences like "Ittun far from here" or "Nice day, ittun?"

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "ittun" incorrect grammar?

It’s nonstandard but authentic dialect - a natural speech form, not a deliberate error.

Can it mean both "it isn’t" and "isn’t it"?

Yes - context tells you which one.

Do people still say it today?

Yes - especially older Southerners and Appalachian speakers, though it’s fading among younger generations.