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O'the Mornin'

In Appalachian speech, "o’the morning" means during the morning hours, often describing something that happens or is true over that time.

#Appalachia   #Time   #Speech&Expressions   #ConnectedSpeech   #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...
'O'the morning' is the most common of the o'time-of-day terms. 

Pronunciation

[uh-thuh MORE-nin]

Meaning & Usage

- During the morning (phrase)

Elmer:
It’s been right frosty o’the morning lately.
Estel:
Yeah, but it warms up come midday.
other spellings: o’ the morning, of the morning, and in the morning (dialect)
★ "O’the morning" is more than just a clock time - it’s about the span and feel of the morning hours, often tied to weather, work, or daily routine. ★

Origin

Likely from older British and Irish English patterns using "of the" to indicate a general time period, carried into Appalachian dialect by early settlers.

Notes

This phrase often shows up in storytelling, weather talk, or work plans, and it adds a bit of rural, old-time character to speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "o’the morning" the same as "in the morning"?
Not exactly - "o’the morning" often means "during the morning hours" and has a folksier, more traditional ring.
Do people still say it?
You might hear it among older speakers or in rural communities, but it’s less common with younger folks.
Can it refer to the future?
Yes - "We’ll get to that o’the morning" means it’ll happen sometime tomorrow morning.
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