oncet
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "oncet" is the regional way of saying "once." The extra "-t" on the end follows the same speech pattern as "twicet," "acrosst," and "clost."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Somtimes I say 'once', and sometimes 'oncet.' Duttin seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. Pronunciation
[WUNSST] or [WUNS-t]
Meaning & Usage
- One time (adverb)
Mae:
You ever rode a train?
You ever rode a train?
Earl:
Only oncet, when I was a boy.
Only oncet, when I was a boy.other spellings: once, one time, a single time, the one time, just once, and that time
★ "Oncet" is almost always used in storytelling - folks saying where they’ve been, what they’ve done, or who they’ve seen that one time. ★
Origin
From Old English *ān siþ* (one time). In Appalachian and Southern speech, the "-t" sound drifted in naturally, creating "oncet" as a stable regional form.
Notes
Very common in Appalachian and Southern speech, especially among older generations. Rare outside these regions, where "once" is the standard form.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "wunst" or "wuns-t." The "-t" sound comes in quick at the end.