Many-a-Time
"Many-a-time" is an older English expression meaning "many times." It’s still common in Southern and Appalachian storytelling, giving speech a folksy, old-timey rhythm.
synonyms: often, repeatedly, frequently
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I used 'many-a-time' in regular conversation, and it's something you'll hear around here commonly. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I used 'many-a-time' in regular conversation, and it's something you'll hear around here commonly. Pronunciation
[MEN-ee uh TAHYM] /ˈmɛn.i ə taɪm/
Meaning & Usage
- Many times; repeatedly (adverbial phrase)
Elmer:
I’ve sat on this porch many-a-time watching the sun go down.
I’ve sat on this porch many-a-time watching the sun go down.
Estel:
And likely will again.
And likely will again.variations: many a time, many times
★ This phrasing gives speech a classic Southern/Appalachian storytelling tone - it’s the same construction you see in old hymns and the King James Bible. ★
Origin and Etymology
From older British English "many a time," dating to the 16th century. Preserved in Southern/Appalachian speech as a living expression even as it faded elsewhere.
Usage Notes
- Widely used in Appalachia and the rural South; now mostly literary or nostalgic elsewhere.
- Often appears in storytelling or reminiscing.
- Tag under Dialect and Grammar for its distinctive older English structure.