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.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: nowhere, in no place, no spot

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Nowheres' is a common one out in the country, I use it myself.

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?

Elmer:

Nope, it don’t go nowheres.

variations: no wheres, nowhere’s

Origin and Etymology

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.

Usage 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.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "nowheres" proper English?

No-it’s nonstandard, but part of authentic dialect speech.

Is it Southern?

It’s found across older rural American speech, but is especially alive in Southern and Appalachian dialects.

Do people still use it?

Yes-particularly in rural communities, where it remains a natural part of everyday talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 3). Nowheres. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/nowheres
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Nowheres." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/nowheres.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Nowheres." HillbillySlang.com. October 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/nowheres.

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