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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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. 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
Meaning & Usage
- Measure of distance (noun/dialect)
Is it close?No ma’am, it’s a good ways off.- Indefinite stretch, farther than expected (figurative)
How far to the overlook?Oh, you got a ways to go yet.Origin and Etymology
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.
Usage 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."