In Appalachian and Southern speech, "kin" means family or relatives - blood relations, or sometimes just folks you’re bound to by closeness and loyalty.
'Kin' is still in use plenty, but probly more with old timers.
Pronunciation
[KIN]
Meaning & Usage
- Family / Relatives (noun)
Pointing out relations
Earl:
Them folks over yonder?
Mae:
Yep, that’s my kin from down in Lee County.
Wider meaning
Ruby:
We ain’t blood, but you’re kin to me all the same.
variations: kin, kinsfolk, kinfolk, my kin
★ When someone calls you "kin," it’s more than genealogy. It can mean you’re part of their circle, trusted like family whether or not you share bloodlines. ★
Origin
From Old English *cynn*, meaning "family, race, kind." Scots-Irish settlers brought the word to Appalachia, where it held strong in everyday talk. It’s one of the oldest words still alive in American English.
Notes
"Kin" often carries emotional weight. It can mean distant cousins at a reunion or your closest blood relatives. In Appalachia, it can also mean chosen family - folks you claim as your own.
Say It Like a Southerner
It’s short and clipped - rhymes with "pin." In mountain talk it often slides right into other words: "mahkin" (my kin), "allkin" (all kin).
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...
Them folks over yonder?