ussun
See also: üşsün
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Eye dialect of us ones (“we; us”, dialectal), as a reference to us versus them (“a state of opposition between two groups, mostly based on group membership”), in mock imitation of a stereotypical parochial sectarian. Singular ussun is a back-formation from ussuns (plural). Compare themmun.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈʌsən/
- Rhymes: -ʌsən
Noun
ussun (plural ussuns)
- (Northern Ireland, colloquial, chiefly humorous and in the plural) Someone on the same side of the Northern Irish sectarian divide (from the speaker's perspective).
- Antonym: themmun
Usage notes
- Chiefly used in the plural ussuns to refer to the side the speaker is on collectively:
- Themmuns always get everything, and ussuns get nothing!
- However, it can also be used in the singular or (definite) plural to refer to specific individuals:
- It depends. Is he an ussun or a themmun?
- Generally used to mock sectarianism by framing both sides as cynical, arbitrary and nakedly self-interested, either to ridicule sectarian behaviour or to draw attention to the shared experiences of those on both sides of the conflict.
- If themmuns are for it, ussuns are against it!
- Well I had no choice - I had to vote for ussuns to stop themmuns getting in!