ways

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "ways" is a dialect measure of distance, used in phrases like "a good ways," "a fur ways," or "some ways" to mean "a fair distance" or "quite a stretch."

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

If you ask a local how close you are to a landmark, you're likely to get, 'it’s a good ways off,' it's commonly said here.

Pronunciation

[WAYZ]

Meaning & Usage

- Measure of distance (noun/dialect)

Mae:

Is it close?

Earl:

No ma’am, it’s a good ways off.

- Indefinite stretch, farther than expected (figurative)

Mae:

How far to the overlook?

Earl:

Oh, you got a ways to go yet.

other spellings: a good ways

★ Using "ways" instead of "way" is a hallmark of Southern/Appalachian speech. It turns an indefinite distance into a more colorful, flexible measure - part of a whole system with "piece," "fur piece," and "good spell." ★

Origin

From Middle and Early Modern English where "ways" functioned as an adverb ("a long ways" = "a long way"). In rural Southern/Appalachian speech the plural form survived into modern times as an everyday distance measure.

Notes

Still common in rural Southern/Appalachian talk ("It’s a good ways off"). Rare in formal English but deeply embedded in oral directions and storytelling.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "ways." Most often paired with "good," "long," "fur," or "little" - as in "a good ways," "a long ways," or "a fur ways off."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "ways" grammatically correct?

In standard English you’d say "a long way," but Southern/Appalachian dialect keeps the older plural "ways."

Does it mean miles?

Not exactly - it’s an indefinite distance, like "a stretch."

Do people still use it today?

Yes - especially older Southerners and in rural speech.