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O'the Evenin'

In Appalachian and older rural English, "o’the evenin’" means "in the evening." The "o’" is a contraction of "of," giving the phrase an older, story-like sound that stuck around in mountain talk.

#Appalachia   #Time   #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...
'O'the evening' is usually heard outside the city. But still heard. 

Pronunciation

[uh-thuh EE-vuh-nin]

Meaning & Usage

- Time of day (evening) (adverbial phrase)

Mae:
When y’all comin’ by?
Earl:
Sometime o’the evenin’, after supper.
other spellings: of the evening, in the evening, o’ the evening, and o’the evenin’
★ "O’the evenin’" carries a slower, story-rich tone. It often shows up in family talk or when someone’s setting the scene in a tale. ★

Origin

The "o’" contraction for "of" goes back centuries in English. Appalachia held onto it while most regions shifted to "in the." Paired with the dropped "g" in "evenin’," it became a hallmark of mountain speech.

Notes

Still heard in rural speech and storytelling. Younger folks might just say "in the evening," but "o’the evenin’" lingers in older generations and in anyone spinning a tale.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it easy and drawn-out: "o’ the evenin’." The "o’" is clipped quick, while "evenin’" drops the final "g," the way it rolls natural in mountain speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "o’the evenin’" different from "in the evening"?
Not in meaning, but it adds an old-fashioned, Appalachian tone.
Do people still use it today?
Yes, especially among older speakers or when telling stories.
Where did the "o’" come from?
It’s a contraction of "of," common in older English and Scots-Irish dialects.
Is it unique to Appalachia?
Not entirely - but Appalachia preserved it in everyday talk long after it faded elsewhere.
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