Any Which Way

In Southern and Appalachian speech, any which way means no matter how or "in whatever manner." It’s often used instead of "anyway" or "anyhow" in casual talk.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Southern

synonyms: anyway, anyhow, regardless, however

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I often use 'any which way' in place of 'anyway' myself. It's a common one down here.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I often use 'any which way' in place of 'anyway' myself. It's a common one down here.

Pronunciation

[EN-ee witch way]
/ˈɛn.i wɪtʃ weɪ/

Meaning & Usage

- No matter how something happens or is done (adverbial phrase)

Troy:

You can stack them boards any which way - they’ll all fit.

Hank:

Yeah, long as the nails hold.

variations: anyways, any which-a-way, any how, anyway

★ If you stretch it out to "any which-a-way," you’re either tellin’ a story or fixin’ to fuss. ★

Origin and Etymology

The phrase any which way dates back to older English expressions like "which way soever" meaning "in whatever direction." It survived most strongly in Southern, Midland, and Appalachian speech, where "which" adds emphasis and rhythm to the phrase.

Usage Notes

Used to mean "no matter how" or "regardless of the way." It can describe:

physical direction - "It’s bent any which way you look at it."
method or manner - "He’ll fix it any which way he can."
resignation - "It’s gone bad any which way."

Variants include any which-a-way (drawled Southern form) and anyways (another rural alternative).

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "any which way" incorrect English?

It’s informal but perfectly normal in Southern and Appalachian speech.

Does it mean the same as "anyway"?

Sometimes - but "any which way" usually means "by whatever method," not just "regardless."

Where is it used?

Widely across the South, Midwest, and Appalachia, especially in rural storytelling and everyday conversation.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 3). Any Which Way. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/any-which-way
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Any Which Way." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/any-which-way.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Any Which Way." HillbillySlang.com. November 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/any-which-way.

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