his'n
His, when it stands alone: that truck is his'n.
Also called hisn, his'un.
Updated September 24, 2026
his'n pronunciation
/HIZ-un/
Meaning
His'n is the mountain way of saying his when the noun drops off. You point at a tool and say "that's his'n," same as hers gets hern and yours gets yourn. It sits at the end of the sentence, not in front of a noun. Smoky Mountain English and Appalachian grammar lists keep hisn / his'n right beside hern, ourn, and theirn.
How folks use it
- “That old Chevy is his'n, so don't you go borrowing it.”
- “I fixed mine and he can fix his'n.”
Origin and etymology
Built by analogy with mine and thine: add an -n to make a standalone possessive. Ulster Scots and Scotch-Irish English carried the same pattern (hisn, hern, yourn). Appalachian English held onto it as everyday speech. Some speakers hear it as his + one ("his'un"), which fits how it sounds.
Frequently asked questions
Can you say "his'n truck"?
Nope. His'n stands alone, like mine. In front of a noun you still say his truck.