Visitin’ (Visiting)

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.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

Most all of use use 'visitin’' - country or town folks.

Pronunciation

[VIZ-it-in]

Meaning & Usage

- Going to see someone (verb)

Mae:

Where y’all headin’?

Earl:

Out visitin’ kin over in Tazewell.

- Sitting and talking together (verb)

Mae:

What are y’all up to?

Earl:

Nothin’ - just visitin’.

- Making rounds or multiple calls (plural form)

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

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."

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’."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "visitin’" always mean travel?

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.