In Appalachian and Southern speech, "visitin’" (sometimes written "visiting") means spending time with people - either by going to see them or just sittin’ and talkin’ together. It’s more than a quick stop; it’s a social call, a spell of shared time and talk.
Most all of use use 'visitin’' - country or town folks.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Most all of use use 'visitin’' - country or town folks.
Pronunciation
[VIZ-it-in]
Meaning & Usage
- Going to see someone (verb)
After church
Mae:
Where y’all headin’?
Earl:
Out visitin’ kin over in Tazewell.
- Sitting and talking together (verb)
On the porch
Mae:
What are y’all up to?
Earl:
Nothin’ - just visitin’.
- Making rounds or multiple calls (plural form)
Talking about preachers
Mae:
Where’s the pastor today?
Earl:
He’s out doin’ his visitin’s.
variations: callin’, droppin’ by, makin’ the rounds, fellowshippin’, visitin’s (plural), out doin’ visitin’s, sittin’ and visitin’
★ "Visitin’" doesn’t have to mean a trip. It can just mean sittin’ around with kin, neighbors, or friends - talking, laughing, telling stories, passing time. ★
Origin and Etymology
From "visit," but in Appalachian and Southern speech it took on a richer sense: not just dropping in, but *being with* people. The plural form "visitin’s" followed the same pattern as "sayin’s" and "goings-on."
Usage Notes
Still widely used in Appalachian and Southern talk. Often paired with church life, family gatherings, and porch-sittin’. Outsiders may not catch that "visitin’" means both *going to see* and *just bein’ together.*
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "viz-it-in." The final "g" is dropped - always "visitin’."
No - it can mean simply sitting together and talking.
What about "visitin’s"?
That’s the plural form - making multiple calls, often used when the preacher made his rounds.
Do people still say this today?
Yes, especially in rural and Southern communities where porch-sittin’ and social calls remain part of life.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 5). Visiting. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/visiting/
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Visiting." HillbillySlang.com, 5 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/visiting/.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Visiting." HillbillySlang.com. October 5, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/visiting/.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
Most all of use use 'visitin’' - country or town folks.