we’s
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "we’s" is a nonstandard contraction meaning "we was," not "we is." It shows up in casual talk and older dialect, reflecting traditional rural grammar patterns.
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Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you grew up here, you often use 'we’s' instead of 'we were'. Sometimes unhillbillies think it means 'we is,' but really it's just 'we was' even more countrified. Pronunciation
[WEEZ]
Meaning & Usage
- Contraction of "we was" (past tense) (pronoun + verb)
Mae:
Where y’all at yesterday?
Where y’all at yesterday?
Earl:
We’s down at the swimming hole.
We’s down at the swimming hole.- Misheard as "we is" by outsiders (note)
Mae:
They think we said ‘we is,’ but we’s just means ‘we was.’
They think we said ‘we is,’ but we’s just means ‘we was.’other spellings: we was
★ This is a great example of how Southern/Appalachian speech bends English grammar in ways that outsiders misread. It’s not "wrong" - it’s a living dialect. ★
Origin
Developed naturally in rural English influenced by Scots-Irish grammar. "We was" became "we’s" in quick speech, especially in storytelling and family talk. Documented in Southern/Appalachian oral histories for over a century.
Notes
Still heard among older speakers or in playful country talk. Less common among younger Southerners but instantly recognizable as regional dialect.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "weez." Functions like "we was," especially in past-tense storytelling.