Yonder

'Yonder' is an Appalachian and Southern way to point out a place over there - sometimes near, sometimes far, but always somewhere you can see or imagine.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

Old timers may something like 'that yonder tree', but the rest of us use it like this: 'over yonder', 'back yonder', 'look yonder.'

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Old timers may something like 'that yonder tree', but the rest of us use it like this: 'over yonder', 'back yonder', 'look yonder.'

Pronunciation

[YON-der]
/ˈjɑndɚ/

Meaning & Usage

- Over There (adverb/adjective)

Estel:

You see that old barn over yonder, past the creek?

Elmer:

Estel. I b'leive you orta get your eyes checked. That's a bucket not 10 yards away.

- A Vague Direction or Distance

Elmer:

Reckon the store’s back up yonder a piece.

Estel:

I’ll find it. Ain’t in no hurry.

★ "Over yonder" is redundant only to folks who’ve never said it. ★

Origin and Etymology

From Old English "geond" (meaning "over, beyond"), passed through centuries of speech into modern Appalachian and Southern dialect.

Usage Notes

"Yonder" can be paired with "over" ("over yonder") or with distance markers ("yonder a ways"). In Appalachian conversation, it’s less about precision and more about shared understanding.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Do people still say "yonder"?

Yes. It’s still common in the South, Appalachia, and rural areas - especially in everyday speech.

Is "yonder" formal English?

No. It’s considered informal and regional today, but it’s been part of English for centuries.

What’s the difference between "yonder" and "over there"?

Both mean the same thing, but "yonder" has a folksy, old-fashioned tone that "over there" doesn’t carry.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 7). Yonder. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/yonder/
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Yonder." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/yonder/.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Yonder." HillbillySlang.com. October 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/yonder/.