Rurnt

"Rurnt" is Appalachian for "ruined" - but not just any ruined. It’s used for something thoroughly spoiled, broken, or beyond saving, whether it’s food, a situation, or someone’s manners.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #FoodandDrink #Southern

synonyms: ruined, spoiled, messed up, broken, gone bad

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I often say something like Play audio

'oh man that's rurnt.' And I still hear it plenty these days.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I often say something like Play audio

'oh man that's rurnt.' And I still hear it plenty these days.

Pronunciation

[RUR-nt]
/ɹɝːnt/

Meaning & Usage

- Ruined (adjective)

Elmer:

Wuttin you 'bout to open up 'at box and git your lunch out?

Estel:

Man I opened it. I shouldn't o'left it out in the car. Hit smells rurnt.

- Spoiled (adjective)

Elmer:

'At dog won't eat nuthin' but roast beef sammiches.

Estel:

'At's 'cause y'all done spoilt him. He's rurnt.

variations: ruint, ru'nt

★ If your granny says your biscuits are "rurnt," they’re not getting served. ★

Origin and Etymology

A regional variation of "ruined," likely shaped by fast or slurred pronunciation in rural Southern and Appalachian speech. Historical dialect forms like "ruint" and "ru’nt" appear as far back as the 1700s in both British and early American English, preserved through mountain speech.

Usage Notes

Rurnt carries a heavier punch than "ruined" - it means something is done for good. The vowel sound is drawn out and rhotic, and the ending clipped. The word can describe anything from burnt cornbread to a bratty child.

Rurnt food - completely spoiled or overcooked
Rurnt child - badly behaved or spoiled
Rurnt situation - hopelessly messed up

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Do people still say "rurnt" today?

Absolutely. It’s still common in Southern and Appalachian regions, especially in informal or family talk.

How is "rurnt" different from "ruined"?

"Rurnt" adds extra emphasis - it suggests total ruin, not just a little damage.

Where did "rurnt" come from?

It evolved from older pronunciations of "ruined," kept alive through generations of mountain and Southern speech.

Is "ruint" the same thing?

Yes - it’s just another old dialect form that appears in the same regions.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 9). Rurnt. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/rurnt
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Rurnt." HillbillySlang.com, 9 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/rurnt.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Rurnt." HillbillySlang.com. November 9, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/rurnt.

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