In Southern and Appalachian speech, nohow means the same as anyhow or anyway. It’s a natural dialect form that often appears at the end of a sentence, especially in everyday talk. The tone isn’t stronger - just local and familiar, part of the easy rhythm of mountain speech.
I grew up hearin' 'nohow' in place of 'anyhow' often. It's still pretty common out in the country.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I grew up hearin' 'nohow' in place of 'anyhow' often. It's still pretty common out in the country.
Pronunciation
[NO-how]
/ˈnoʊˌhaʊ/
Meaning & Usage
- Anyhow / Anyway (adverb)
Everyday talk
Ruth:
He ain’t comin’, nohow.
Mae:
Didn’t think he would.
- To continue or close a thought (adverb)
Storytelling
Earl:
I told him not to do it, and he done it nohow.
Clara:
Ain’t that always the way.
variations: no how, norhow
★ Think of nohow as the mountain cousin of anyhow - same meaning, different music. ★
Origin and Etymology
The word nohow dates back to early English, appearing in both British and Scots dialects before crossing the Atlantic. In the South and Appalachia, it blended naturally into local grammar as the everyday equivalent of "anyhow." Its survival shows how older speech patterns stayed alive in mountain talk long after they faded elsewhere.
Usage Notes
In Southern and Appalachian English, nohow usually appears at the end of a sentence, just like anyhow.
We ain’t goin’, nohow. - "We’re not going anyhow."
Didn’t hurt it, nohow. - "Didn’t hurt it anyhow."
He said he wasn't tired, nohow. - "He said he wasn't tired, anyhow."
It carries no extra force - just a comfortable, regional sound familiar to generations of Southern and Appalachian speakers.
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...
I grew up hearin' 'nohow' in place of 'anyhow' often. It's still pretty common out in the country. 
