ever'one
Everyone, said the clipped mountain way.
Also called everyone, ever one.
Updated September 21, 2026
ever'one pronunciation
/EV-er-wun/
Meaning
Same as everyone, just shortened. In Appalachian speech, "every" often drops to "ever," so you get ever'one, ever'body, ever'thing. It is not a different word with a fancy meaning. It is the everyday sound of who-all is included.
How folks use it
- “Ever'one grab a plate before the gravy runs out.”
- “They may ever'one of 'em be down with that cold.”
Origin and etymology
Old English every came from "ever each," and mountain talk kept a clipped "ever" in compounds. The Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English lists forms like everbody and everone. Blind Pig and the Acorn notes it as living Appalachian speech, not a typo.
Frequently asked questions
Is ever'one misspelled?
On purpose. The apostrophe marks the dropped sound from every. Folks write it that way to show how it is said.