oncet
Once, with that Appalachian t stuck on the end.
Also called onst, wunst.
Updated September 24, 2026
oncet pronunciation
/WUNST/
Meaning
Oncet means once. Southern and South Midland speakers often add a final t to once and twice, so you get oncet and twicet. Same idea as acrost for across. It is everyday redneck and mountain talk, not a joke spelling. You'll hear it in church stories, farm talk, and anybody who says they try to read the Bible through oncet a year.
How folks use it
- “I only been there oncet, but I ain't forgettin' it.”
- “He figured he'd rode around the world onst and a half.”
Origin and etymology
Excrescent final t on once. Noted in Tennessee dialect writing by 1891 alongside twicet and acrost. Dictionary of American Regional English labels the pronunciation chiefly South and South Midland. Kurath and McDavid found the added t on once and twice across the Midland and South, even among some middle-class speakers.
Frequently asked questions
Is oncet misspelled once?
It's a real regional pronunciation written out. Folks who say it aren't guessing at spelling; they're talking the way they talk.