young'un
A child; a young one.
Also called young un, young'uns, young one, younguns.
Updated October 24, 2026
young'un pronunciation
/YUNG-un/
Meaning
Mountain shorthand for a kid. "Young" plus clipped "one" ('un), same pattern as big'un and tough'un. Covers babies through teenagers depending on who's talking. Parents herd young'uns to the truck, grandmas count how many young'uns somebody raised, and grown folks still call themselves somebody's young'un when the story goes back far enough.
How folks use it
- “Keep them young'uns out of the creek till supper.”
- “She raised thirteen young'uns on that little hillside farm.”
Origin and etymology
"Young one" reduced to young'un, a South and South Midland form noted by DARE and well attested in Smoky Mountain English. The 'un ending (one) also shows up in Northern England speech. Appalachian families carried it as everyday talk for children for generations.
Frequently asked questions
How old is a young'un?
Usually a child. Exact age is loose. A teenager might still get called a young'un by older kin.