Everthang
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "everthang" is the local pronunciation of "everything." The "-thing" shifts into "-thang," giving the word extra drawl and weight.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Along with 'thang', everthang is one of the only times you almost here the 'g' at the end of a word. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Along with 'thang', everthang is one of the only times you almost here the 'g' at the end of a word. Pronunciation
[EV-er-thang]
Meaning & Usage
- All things, the whole lot (pronoun)
Mae:
They done bought up everthang off the shelf.
They done bought up everthang off the shelf.
Earl:
variations: everything, ever’thang, everthin’, all, the whole lot, the works, ever’last one
★ "Everthang" is just "everything" said Southern/Appalachian style. The shift to "-thang" is one of the most recognizable markers of the dialect. ★
Origin and Etymology
The pronunciation "-thang" comes from vowel shifts in Southern and Appalachian English. Over time, "everything" became "everthang" in casual speech, often written phonetically to capture the sound.
Usage Notes
Still common in everyday talk across the South and Appalachia. Often used in playful or emphatic ways: "He wants everthang his way." Outsiders may write it to mimic dialect, but locals just say it naturally.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said with a stretched "-thang." Can sound playful, serious, or exaggerated depending on tone.