noway
Anyway — or "not at all," depending how you drop it in the sentence.
Also called noways, no ways.
Updated September 24, 2026
noway pronunciation
/NOW-way/
Meaning
In Appalachian and rural Southern talk, noway (and noways) often means anyway or anyhow, especially tacked on the end of a negative: "Wadn't nobody going down there noway." It can also land as not at all / by no means. Don't mix it up with the modern two-word "no way!" shout of disbelief — same letters, different job.
How folks use it
- “That old truck ain't worth that much money noway.”
- “I wasn't planning on going to town noway.”
Origin and etymology
English has used noway/noways for "not at all" since Middle English. In the South and South Midland, DARE records speakers using noway and noways for "anyway" or "anyhow," especially in negative sentences. That sentence-final habit is what stuck in Appalachian porch talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is noway the same as saying "no way!"?
Usually no. The dialect adverb is closer to "anyway" or "not at all." The two-word "no way!" is the shocked refusal you hear everywhere.