ary'un
Any one; a single one.
Also called ary one, ary'ne.
Updated September 21, 2026
ary'un pronunciation
/AIR-yun/
Meaning
Appalachian and Southern Midland talk for "any one" or "a single one." Pair it with ary (any) and its opposite nary (not any). If somebody asks whether you got ary'un, they want to know if you have even one.
How folks use it
- “I don't believe he killed ary'un of those deer.”
- “Have you got ary'un of them biscuits left?”
Origin and etymology
From older English e'er a ("ever a"), shortened to ary, then ary'un when "one" attaches. DARE marks the usage especially South and Midland. The Southern Appalachian English dictionary records spellings like ary'un and ary one.
Frequently asked questions
How is ary'un different from nary?
Ary'un means any one. Nary means not any or none. They are a matched pair.