warsh
Wash, said with an extra r tucked in the middle.
Also called worsh, warshin'.
Updated September 24, 2026
warsh pronunciation
/WORSH/
Meaning
Warsh is wash with an intrusive r. You warsh clothes, warsh the truck, or tell kids to warsh up for supper. Same chore as the dictionary spelling. The r just rides along in Midland, Appalachian, and Ozarks talk. Related forms show up in Warshington and warshing machine.
How folks use it
- “Go warsh your hands before you touch that biscuit.”
- “I need to warsh the mud off the four-wheeler.”
Origin and etymology
Linguists call this an intrusive or epenthetic r. DARE finds warsh and worsh across the Midland belt from the Mid-Atlantic into Appalachia and the Ozarks. Many tie it to Scots-Irish settlement patterns. Noted since at least the 1890s. Younger speakers use it less, but it still marks rural family talk for lots of folks.
Frequently asked questions
Is warsh wrong English?
No. It is a regional pronunciation, not a mistake. Plenty of sharp speakers grew up saying it.