Favorite Regional Words or Phrases

[Anonymous]

My grandparents are from Mississippi and they both say "extry" instead of "extra".

I'm from North Georgia and say cut off the lights, make a picture, etc. Didn't really know those were Southern expressions, lol. I also tend to say "DAMNATION!" when I am pissed, much to my husband's delight.

I mentioned North Georgia b/c someone else mentioned the "deep south" - when I was kid I assumed that meant South Georgia...haha. I also thought it was really really weird that we had birds in January - they always told us in school that birds fly south in winter, but didn't explain that "south" meant "here"! I was a very confused 6 year old. I thought those birds should hurry up and get to Florida!

[Anonymous]

Not sure it's a regional thing, but oh... I can't stand hearing "woof" for "wolf". I'm amazed how many people actually say "woof".

And "pitcher" for "picture". My entire family says baked batatoes and mashed batatoes.

[Anonymous]

In Indiana/Midwest: "Something you?" which translates to "Would you like something?"

[Anonymous]

In California we say to smoke out to mean that we smoke pot. My Boston bread husband thinks it's hilarious. I guess to him it means something else. No idea what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Indiana/Midwest: "Something you?" which translates to "Would you like something?"

A little off topic, but that reminds me of when my Italian friend started working here, she had no idea what her colleagues were saying to her every day at around 12 pm. She asked me, "What does Jeetyet mean?" (did you eat yet?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of mine are Southern, I think. Definitely heard them in North Carolina.

Tote = carry, "Is that too big for you to tote?"
Carry = take somewhere, "Can you carry me to the store?"

Also, "Bless (his/her/their) heart!" I know it usually follows some kind of insult, but I think it's hilarious!

Hadn't thought of this in ages, but had a friend (I think from Ohio somewhere? could be totally wrong there) who used "Ride" in the take somewhere sense. Always cracked me up to hear "Can you ride me home?" I can't help it - that just sounds dirty to my NE ears!

Oh, so God forbid you get Ohio dirt spilled on you. After all you have clean NE ears. You must be so proud!

Um, actually I think this would mean the dirt is in between my NE ears?

[Anonymous]

There was a billboard for a restaurant (specializing in meat n' three!) in South Carolina that read:

"Jeetyet?"

"Naw. Yontu?"

Eat at Joe's.

[Anonymous]

Some of these are really funny. Love the Georgia poster who always wondered why they had birds in the winter bc didn't realize she was South.

I'm from the South and bless her heart has always been one of my favorites. Am also very familiar with "fixin to" and "over yonder."

I'm super Southern but generally don't have much of an accent with new people or at work. But I found out one day at work that pronouncing vehicle as VEE-hickle was apparently very Southern. I had never once questioned the way I said that word. Apparently, it should be pronounced vee-ICKLE (emphasis on the second syllable and without the "H" sound). A whole room full of people cracked up at the way I pronounced it and I was shocked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of these are really funny. Love the Georgia poster who always wondered why they had birds in the winter bc didn't realize she was South.

I'm from the South and bless her heart has always been one of my favorites. Am also very familiar with "fixin to" and "over yonder."

I'm super Southern but generally don't have much of an accent with new people or at work. But I found out one day at work that pronouncing vehicle as VEE-hickle was apparently very Southern. I had never once questioned the way I said that word. Apparently, it should be pronounced vee-ICKLE (emphasis on the second syllable and without the "H" sound). A whole room full of people cracked up at the way I pronounced it and I was shocked!

I've spent some time in the south and I'm willing to bet that you also call it an UM-brella (emphasis on UM) and you pronounce TV as TEEEEEE-vee (emphasis on the T), correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of these are really funny. Love the Georgia poster who always wondered why they had birds in the winter bc didn't realize she was South.

I'm from the South and bless her heart has always been one of my favorites. Am also very familiar with "fixin to" and "over yonder."

I'm super Southern but generally don't have much of an accent with new people or at work. But I found out one day at work that pronouncing vehicle as VEE-hickle was apparently very Southern. I had never once questioned the way I said that word. Apparently, it should be pronounced vee-ICKLE (emphasis on the second syllable and without the "H" sound). A whole room full of people cracked up at the way I pronounced it and I was shocked!

I've spent some time in the south and I'm willing to bet that you also call it an UM-brella (emphasis on UM) and you pronounce TV as TEEEEEE-vee (emphasis on the T), correct?

Ha! Definite yes to UM-brella (also never really thought about that one as being unusual). Not as much to TEE-vee but I know what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend from New Orleans who has been here in DC his entire adult life, and still says nekkid for naked.

[Anonymous]

hahaha - I say EEEE-kwat-ER for equator and never have thought a thing of it til my husband started mimicking me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hahaha - I say EEEE-kwat-ER for equator and never have thought a thing of it til my husband started mimicking me!

Northeasterner here, and I have to say I think I may switch to pronouncing it EEEE-kwat-er. Never thought much of it before, but your post made me realize that pronouncing it e-KWATE-er kinda sounds like it's a mathematical superhero. You know, like Superman, Aquaman, and dun-dun-dah......The Equator!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hahaha - I say EEEE-kwat-ER for equator and never have thought a thing of it til my husband started mimicking me!

VEE-hicle poster here - I say EE-quator, too! Never thought about that one either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in Minesota (and maybe elswhere) call the carts at the grocery store "buggies." They also pronounce bag as "bayg" like bay with a g on the end of it.

Yes! The "bayg" one. A friend of mine from Wisconsin who moved here would say "bayg" instead of bag.