further
Farther down the road. More distance, plain and simple.
Also called futher, furder, farther.
Updated September 21, 2026
further pronunciation
/FUR-ther/
Meaning
In rural Southern and Appalachian talk, further covers physical distance the same as farther. Schoolbooks like a split: farther for miles, further for ideas. Porch talk mostly ignores that and says go further down the hollow. You may also hear it as futher or furder.
How folks use it
- “The store's a little further past the church.”
- “I can't go no further. My feet are done.”
Origin and etymology
Further comes from Old English furðor, once used for both distance and degree. Later school grammar tried to reserve farther for physical space. Southern speech kept the older habit of using further either way. Dialect notes and Southern writers still treat further-for-farther as everyday regional English.
Frequently asked questions
Is further wrong for distance?
Not in Southern talk. Grammar worksheets may mark it, but folks giving directions use further for miles all the time.