[Vocabulary] nohow

[mmasny]

Is this word formal? I've never heard it in speech. It's always "in no way".

 

[Linguist__]

Is this word formal? I've never heard it in speech. It's always "in no way".

I would say it is really informal. Perhaps it's colloquial to a specific dialect, you'll need to wait for US speakers to say so, but it's definately a US term.

I've heard it in films/programmes to emphasise, e.g.

"There's no way I'm going in that cave. No way and nohow."

At least, I think this is the right word? I would have thought it was 'no how' - two words.

 

[mmasny]

There certainly is such a word, I have it in my dictionary. It dates back to 1775 (they say). And they give an example: "was nohow equal to the task".