Onry
"Onry" is a Southern and Appalachian spelling and pronunciation of "ornery." It means cranky, contrary, mischievous, or aggravating.
synonyms: ornery, cranky, stubborn, mean-tempered, contrary
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Somtimes pronounced, own-ree, people use 'onry all the time these days in the south. Pronunciation
[ON-ree] /ˈɔːnri/
Meaning & Usage
- Cranky or grouchy (adjective)
Elmer:
That rooster’s been pure onry all morning - won’t let me near the coop.
That rooster’s been pure onry all morning - won’t let me near the coop.- Stubborn or hard to handle (adjective)
Clara:
That boy’s as onry as a mule. Won’t listen to a word I say.
That boy’s as onry as a mule. Won’t listen to a word I say.variations: ornery
Origin
A pronunciation-based spelling of "ornery," which itself comes from a clipped form of "ordinary." The shortened sound "on-ree" is widely heard in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Notes
- Onry is not a typo - it reflects how the word is actually spoken in Southern and Appalachian dialects.
- Though ornery is the standard spelling, onry is common in writing that aims to capture local speech.
- Both mean the same thing: cranky, stubborn, mischievous, or aggravating.