In Appalachian and Southern speech, "misewell" is a blended form of "might as well." It means exactly the same thing: that something is the best or most practical option.
'Misewell' is absolutely one of those everday words. I try to bend my accent for those unfortunate non-hillbillies I speak with ever once in awhile, but this one rolls off my tongue with me noticin'.
variations: mizewell, mize'well, might as well, midas well
★ When you finally give up on somethin', there's a perfect response to the next idea somebody throws out: "misewell." ★
Origin
From the phrase "might as well," used in English since the 1500s. In fast Appalachian and Southern speech, the words blurred together and stuck as "misewell."
Notes
"Misewell" shows how Appalachian English smooths over sounds in everyday speech. It’s informal, folksy, and used in the same places you’d say "might as well" in standard English.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say "might as well" real fast, and the words collapse into "misewell." The "t" and "a" vanish, leaving a smooth "miz-well."
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...