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." 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.variations: whatever, 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 and Etymology
Found in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies, this belongs to a family of regional "ever-" compounds ("everhow," "everwho") that date back to Scots-Irish English.
Usage 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."