Our’n

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "our’n" means ours, formed the same way as "his’n," "her’n," and "your’n," though this version is much less commonly used today.

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synonyms: ours, belonging to us, our possession

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard our’n in the wild, but I sure have heard tell of it.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard our’n in the wild, but I sure have heard tell of it.

Pronunciation

[ARR’n] or [OWR’n]
/ɑrn/ or /aʊrn/

Meaning & Usage

- Ours; belonging to us (dialect pronoun)

Earl:

Is that garden spot their’n?

Mae:

No, that’s our’n - right past the fence.

Ruby:

It was their’n yesterday, but today it’s our’n.

variations: our’n, ourn, our one

★ Even if you don’t hear our’n much anymore, knowin’ it rounds out the whole family of mountain possessives - his’n, her’n, your’n, and the rare but real our’n. ★

Origin and Etymology

"Our’n" comes from blending "our" with "one," as in "that one is ours." Appalachian dialects commonly attach an -n ending to create possessive forms ("his’n," "her’n," "your’n"), a pattern influenced by Scots-Irish and older British speech carried into the mountains in the 1700s and 1800s. While attested in dialect writing from the 19th century onward, "our’n" has always been the least frequently used of the group.

Usage Notes

"Our’n" shows up in older Appalachian storytelling, oral histories, and dialect-heavy literature. It is much rarer in modern conversation than the other -n possessives, and many Southerners never use it at all. When it does appear, it signals deeply traditional or intentionally folksy speech.

Functions exactly like "ours"
Least common of the -n possessive forms
Appears mostly in older mountain speech and dialect writing
Often used for stylistic or nostalgic effect

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "our’n" the same as "ours"?

Yes - it’s the dialect equivalent.

Do people actually say it?

It’s rare today, but appears in older Appalachian speech and in dialect writing.

Why the -n ending?

It comes from "our one," the same way "his’n" = "his one."

Is it part of a larger pattern?

Yes - the set includes "his’n," "her’n," and "your’n," all built the same way.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 15). Our’n. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/ourn
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Our’n." HillbillySlang.com, 15 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/ourn.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Our’n." HillbillySlang.com. November 15, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/ourn.

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