back yonder
Back there; farther back that way.
Also called back yander.
Updated September 21, 2026
back yonder pronunciation
/BAK YAHN-der/
Meaning
Points behind you or back along the road you already traveled. Same yonder family as over yonder and up yonder, with back setting the direction. Storytellers also use it for time: back yonder when I was a boy. Distance can be the next pasture or a fuzzy "somewhere behind."
How folks use it
- “The old truck's parked back yonder by the oak.”
- “Back yonder, when I was a boy, things were different.”
Origin and etymology
Yonder is old English for "over there," from forms related to Old English geond. Southern and Midland American English kept it in daily pointing talk. Back yonder pairs that word with a rearward or past-time sense. Collins marks the phrase chiefly Midland U.S.
Frequently asked questions
Is back yonder only about place?
Mostly place, but people also say it for "back then" when telling a story.