adverb
anywho
EN-ee-hoo
Anywho (adverb) means a jokey version of anyway, used to change the subject or steer a conversation back after a digression. Example: “Anywho, that's enough about my knee — how was the wedding?”
adverb
1
informal A jokey version of anyway, used to change the subject or steer a conversation back after a digression.
"Anywho, that's enough about my knee — how was the wedding?"
"We got lost twice, but anywho, we made it in the end."
How to use anywho
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA jokey way of saying 'anyway'.
When to use it
Very informal and slightly comic. Fine in speech, chat and casual email; wrong in essays or business writing.
Memory tip
Use it only where you would also use a wink — it always signals a casual tone.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
anywho / anyhoo
anywho / anyway
Common pairings
anywho, moving on
but anywho
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like anywho.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, that's enough about my knee — how was the wedding?
Etymology
A playful alteration of anyhow, influenced by anyway.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
Is anywho a real word?
Yes, in the sense that it is widely used and understood, and it appears in dictionaries as an informal variant of anyhow. It is not standard written English, so keep it out of formal writing.
What is the difference between anywho and anyway?
The meaning is identical. Anywho is simply a light-hearted, slightly folksy version, often used to signal that the speaker knows they have been rambling. Anyway is the neutral form suitable anywhere.
How do you spell it — anywho or anyhoo?
Both are written, along with anyhow. Anyhoo is at least as common online and is closer to how the word actually sounds; neither spelling is more correct than the other.
What is the meaning of anywho?
"anywho" (adverb) means a jokey version of anyway, used to change the subject or steer a conversation back after a digression.
