Of a Evenin'

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Of a Evening" means "in the evening" - a regional time expression rooted in older English dialects.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Time #BlendedWords #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Of a evenin'' is usually heard outside the city. But still heard.

Pronunciation

[UHV a EEV-ning] /ʌv ə ˈiːvnɪn/

Meaning & Usage

- During the evening (time expression)

Pearl:

When do y’all go walking?

Jeb:

Mostly of a evening after chores are done.

variations: In the Evening, At Nightfall, Come Evening, Of an Evening (older British form)

★ The "of a + time" construction (of a morning, of a night, of a Sunday) is a hallmark of Appalachian and Southern speech. It comes from older British dialect grammar where "of a" meant "during." ★

Origin

From Middle and Early Modern English constructions using "of a" + time to mean "during" or "at." Carried to the American South and Appalachia by Scots-Irish and other British settlers, it persisted as a regionalism long after disappearing from standard English.

Notes

Still widely heard in rural Southern/Appalachian speech, especially among older speakers. Outside the region it sounds quaint or old-fashioned but is easily understood as "in the evening."

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "of a evenin’" - dropping the "g" at the end, especially in rural speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Does "of a evening" mean the same as "in the evening"?

Yes - it’s a regional way to say "in the evening."

Is it still used today?

Yes - though less common among younger speakers, it remains familiar in rural speech and storytelling.

Can it be used with other times?

Yes - "of a morning," "of a night," "of a Sunday," etc. are all part of the same pattern.

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