everwho
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "everwho" means "whoever" or "anyone who." It’s a regional way to say "no matter who" or "whichever person."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
‘Everwho’ is one of those you'll hear all the time out in the country. Pronunciation
[EV-er-hoo] (rhymes with "never who")
Meaning & Usage
- Whoever; no matter who (dialect word)
Mae:
Who’s allowed to help?
Who’s allowed to help?
Earl:
Everwho wants to pitch in can.
Everwho wants to pitch in can.other spellings: whoever, and anyone who
★ "Everwho" is part of a family of regional "ever-" compounds ("everwhat," "everhow") 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-who" meaning "whoever."
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: "everwho" - often in sentences like "Everwho wants some can have it."