minner

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "minner" is the common pronunciation of "minnow" - a small bait fish often caught in creeks and used for fishing.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll still hear 'minners' out in the country around here. I've heard it spoke like that all my life.

Pronunciation

[MIN-ner]

Meaning & Usage

- A small bait fish (regional pronunciation of "minnow") (noun)

Earl:

What you usin’ for bait?

Mae:

Caught me a bucket of minners.

other spellings: minnow, bait fish, shiner, creek fish, fish bait, and little fish

★ Even if someone knows the proper spelling "minnow," most folks in Appalachia and the South will still say "minner." It’s part of the natural speech rhythm. ★

Origin

From Old English *myne* or *minne* (a small fish). The word became "minnow" in standard English. In rural Appalachian and Southern speech, vowel shifts turned it into "minner."

Notes

Very common in Appalachia and the South, especially around fishing and creeks. Outside these regions, people almost always say "minnow," though they’ll understand "minner" in context.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "min-ner." The "ow" sound in "minnow" flattens to "er."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "minner" a different kind of fish?

No - it’s just the regional way of saying "minnow."

Do people still say "minner"?

Yes - you’ll hear it all the time in fishing talk in Appalachia and the rural South.

Is it spelled "minner" in writing?

Not in formal writing. But in dialect writing or local stories, you’ll often see it spelled that way to reflect speech.