everwhat
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "everwhat" means "whatever" or "whichever." It’s a regional way of saying "any option is fine" or "whichever one."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You can hear ‘everwhat’ out in the country, and from people born down here." Pronunciation
[EV-er-wut] or [EV-er-whut]
Meaning & Usage
- Whatever; whichever (dialect word)
Mae:
Do you want cornbread or biscuits?
Do you want cornbread or biscuits?
Earl:
Everwhat you’re makin’ is fine.
Everwhat you’re makin’ is fine.other spellings: whatever, and whichever
★ "Everwhat" is a blend of "ever" and "what," used in the South and Appalachia as an easy shorthand for "whatever" or "whichever." Older speakers use it naturally; it signals authentic regional speech. ★
Origin
Documented in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies and the Dictionary of American Regional English. It’s part of a family of regional "ever-" compounds ("everhow," "everwho") dating back to Scots-Irish English.
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: "everwhat" - often in sentences like "Everwhat you say" or "Everwhat you want."