Yinz

"Yinz" is a plural form of you, rooted in Appalachian speech but most famously associated with Pittsburgh. It shares ancestry with Southern Appalachian forms like "you’uns" and "yuns," all descended from the older phrase "you ones."

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #BlendedWords #Southern

synonyms: you all, you plural, you folks, y’all

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I’ve heard it every which way over the years - even yinz.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I’ve heard it every which way over the years - even yinz.

Pronunciation

[YINZ]
/jɪnz/

Meaning & Usage

- You (plural) (regional pronoun)

Ruby:

Yinz goin’ fishin’ this evenin’?

Earl:

Reckon so, if the bait shop’s still open.

variations: yinz, yunz, you ones, you’uns

★ Despite its Pittsburgh fame, yinz shares the same Scots-Irish roots as Appalachian "you’uns" and "yuns." It’s the northern cousin in the family. ★

Origin and Etymology

Forms like "yinz," "yuns," and "you’uns" descend from the Scots-Irish phrase "you ones," brought into the Appalachian mountains during the 1700s. As settlement patterns diverged, the Northern Appalachian region - especially western Pennsylvania - developed "yinz," while Southern Appalachia favored "you’uns" and "yuns." The split illustrates how shared linguistic roots can evolve into distinct regional forms.

Usage Notes

Today, "yinz" is a hallmark of Pittsburgh identity and northern Appalachian speech, often tied to local pride, sports culture, and regional English. In Southern Appalachia, speakers are more likely to use "you’uns," "yuns," or "y’all," but all forms reflect the same historical lineage.

Plural form of "you"
Strongly associated with Pittsburgh and northern Appalachia
Cousin to Southern Appalachian "you’uns" and "yuns"
Part of the wider Scots-Irish "you ones" family

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "yinz" the same as "you’uns"?

They share the same origin, but "yinz" belongs mainly to Pittsburgh and northern Appalachia.

Is "yinz" used in the South?

Not typically. Southern Appalachia uses "you’uns," "yuns," and "y’all."

Is "yinz" slang or dialect?

Dialect - a regional grammatical form.

Do people still say "yinz"?

Absolutely. It’s alive and well in Pittsburgh and surrounding regions.

How to Cite This Page

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

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