everhow

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "everhow" means "however" or "no matter how." It’s a regional way to say "in whatever manner" or "whichever way."

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Southern

Pronunciation

[EV-er-hou] (rhymes with "never how")

Meaning & Usage

- However; no matter how (dialect word)

Talking about preparation
Mae:
Do you want me to fry it or bake it?

Earl:
Everhow you like is fine.

other spellings: however, and no matter how
★ "Everhow" is part of a family of regional "ever-" compounds ("everwhat," "everwho") found in Southern and Appalachian English, reflecting Scots-Irish influence. ★

Origin

Documented in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies and the Dictionary of American Regional English. It traces back to older British and Scots-Irish forms like "ever-how" meaning "however."

Notes

Still used in rural Southern/Appalachian communities, especially by older speakers. Outside the region it’s rare and may be misunderstood, so it’s a marker of authentic dialect.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "everhow" - often in sentences like "Everhow you do it" or "Everhow she said."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "everhow" formal?
No - it’s informal dialect speech.
Are there related forms?
Yes - "everwhat" (whatever), "everwho" (whoever).
Do people still use it today?
Yes - especially older Southerners and in Appalachian storytelling.
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