Nowheres
"Nowheres" is a nonstandard dialect form of "nowhere," meaning no place at all. It’s part of the older English dialect forms carried into American rural speech, still alive in Southern and Appalachian talk.
synonyms: nowhere, in no place, no spot
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Nowheres' is a common one out in the country, I use it myself. Pronunciation
[NO-wairz] /ˈnoʊˌwɛrz/
Meaning & Usage
- No place (dialect adverb)
Clara:
Is that old road open?
Is that old road open?
Elmer:
Nope, it don’t go nowheres.
Nope, it don’t go nowheres.variations: no wheres, nowhere’s
Origin
From nonstandard English dialects (especially British Isles) dating to the 18th century. The form came to America with settlers and became common in rural dialects. Though attested across the U.S., it remains especially vibrant in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Notes
- Considered nonstandard; avoided in formal writing but natural in dialect speech.
- Closely related to anywheres and somewheres.
- Still common in Southern/Appalachian dialect today, though less frequent in other regions.