Nuthin'
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "nuthin’" is a relaxed pronunciation of "nothing," common in everyday conversation and storytelling.
Pronunciation
[NUH-thin]
Meaning & Usage
- Nothing (pronoun, noun)
Elmer:
Ain’t nuthin’ worth watchin’ on TV tonight.
Ain’t nuthin’ worth watchin’ on TV tonight.
Estel:
Then let’s go sit on the porch instead.
Then let’s go sit on the porch instead.- Anything of value (negative idiom)
Elmer:
That old truck ain’t worth nuthin’.
That old truck ain’t worth nuthin’.
Estel:
Still hauls hay just fine, though.
Still hauls hay just fine, though.variations: nothing, nothin, nuthin, nuthen
★ When someone says "That ain’t nuthin’," they might mean it’s insignificant - or they’re just being modest. ★
Origin
A phonetic spelling of the reduced pronunciation of "nothing," common in informal speech across English dialects. In Appalachian English, the vowel and final consonant are often softened, producing "nuthin’."
Notes
"Nuthin’" is used in both literal and figurative senses. In some phrases like "next to nuthin’," it means "very little." Dropping the final "g" is part of the natural rhythm of Appalachian and Southern speech.