good'un
A good one. Fine person, joke, catch, or specimen.
Also called good one, good un, goodun.
Updated September 21, 2026
good'un pronunciation
/GOOD-un/
Meaning
Clipped praise. Call a neighbor a good'un and you mean solid help and a decent heart. Call a story a good'un and you mean it landed funny. Same 'un ending you hear in young'un and big'un.
How folks use it
- “I'm tellin' you, he's a good'un. Always shows up when you need him.”
- “Ha! That's a good'un. Tell it again.”
Origin and etymology
Good'un is good one with Appalachian 'un, the reduced form of one stuck on adjectives (big'un, which'un, that'un). The pattern is old British and Scots-Irish speech that held in the mountains. Blind Pig and dialect notes treat good'un as everyday mountain praise for people and tall tales alike.
Frequently asked questions
Is good'un only for people?
No. It works for jokes, fish, storms, and about anything you want to call a fine one.