company
Visitors or guests at the house.
Updated September 21, 2026
company pronunciation
/KUM-puh-nee/
Meaning
Not a business. Company means folks who showed up — cousins from town, the preacher, neighbors on the porch. "We've got company" is the house code for straighten up, put on manners, and maybe wring a chicken. Southern hospitality hangs on that word.
How folks use it
- “Y'all quit roughhousing — we've got company coming.”
- “I can't talk long; we've got company on the porch.”
Origin and etymology
Company has meant companions or guests in English for a long time. Rural Southern talk kept the word sharp for people at your door, and old songs like "Company's Comin'" treat arriving visitors as big news worth cooking for.
Frequently asked questions
Does company always mean overnight guests?
No. Anybody visiting counts — even a short stop on the porch.