what are some southern words

The Ultimate Dictionary Of Southern Words & Phrases

1. Y'all. Yes, we use this word. All the time, actually. If two or more people are near, we use this word to address the...
2. Buggy. This one is actually pretty funny. I've heard the debate multiple times, but in the South, we call a "shopping...
3. Commode. This would be a toilet.
4. Playing Possum.
5. Reckon.

Full Answer

How many Southern words and phrases do you know?

Jan 24, 2017 · The Ultimate Dictionary Of Southern Words & Phrases 1. Y'all. Yes, we use this word. All the time, actually. If two or more people are near, we use this word to address the... 2. Buggy. This one is actually pretty funny. I've heard the debate multiple times, but in the South, we call a "shopping... ...

What is your favorite Southern phrase?

It's common knowledge Southern folks have a language all our own.Whether it's the way we insert "y'all" at the end of everything, give certain words a totally new meaning or turn a six-word phrase into a single word, Southerners have quite the vocabulary. …

What are things Southern people say?

Mar 12, 2020 · In order to find out the full extent of something, some parts of the South use the construction “[wh-question word] all”—as in “what all,” “where all,” and “who all.”

Is the word Southern a proper noun or common noun?

Apr 06, 2014 · the Southern Hospitality vernacular phrase for “I Swear” because Mama and the preacher always taught that swearing is bad. 26. What in tarnation…? “Tarnation,” which dates back to the late 18th century, is an interesting example of this generation of euphemisms because it’s actually two euphemisms rolled into one word.

What are some Southern sayings?

24 Colorful Southern Sayings You Won't Hear Anywhere ElseBless your heart. While this phrase can be meant sincerely, it usually has an edge. ... If I had my druthers. ... He's having a dying duck fit. ... Hold your horses. ... What in the Sam Hill? ... She's stuck up higher than a light pole. ... As all get-out. ... Finer than a frog's hair.More items...•Sep 15, 2020

What words do Southerners say weird?

Words Southerners Say Weirdaint - the sister of one's mother or father (I need to go visit my aint.)caint - can't (I caint do that.)fitt'in - fixing to, about to (I'm fitt'in to buy one.)fitty - fifty (Can I borrow fitty cents?)i'moan - I am going to (I'moan go to that game.)More items...

What is the most Southern phrase?

We chose 15 of the most ridiculous Southern sayings — and tried to explain them.“We're living in high cotton.” ... “She was madder than a wet hen.” ... “He could eat corn through a picket fence.” ... “You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.” ... “You look rode hard and put up wet.” ... “He's as drunk as Cooter Brown.”More items...•Oct 31, 2013

How do you get a Southern accent?

4:3810:23How to Speak with a Southern Accent | American English - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAccent is that they will switch the stress to the first syllable i think there are some words thatMoreAccent is that they will switch the stress to the first syllable i think there are some words that are fairly well known that people do this with.

What is the South known for?

The South is known for tasty vittles often referred to as soul food. If you’re looking for something that’ll stick to your ribs, you just can’t beat a locally owned roadside diner in the Heart of Dixie.

Who is the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Southerners certainly have a way with words. It's no coincidence that the American South has produced some of America's greatest authors, including Harper Lee of To Kill a Mockingbird fame.

What does "knee high to a grasshopper" mean?

knee high to a grasshopper - a very young child (His family lived next door when he was knee high to a grasshopper.) like a nail in the head - useless, no reason for (He needs another dog like he needs a nail in the head.) mad as a mule chewing bumblebees - very angry; thoroughly ticked off (I am so angry!

What is chicken fried?

chicken fried - not to be confused with fried chicken; a style of coating meat in a heavy batter before deep frying it; usually chicken fried chicken (not a typo) or chicken fried steak. chitterlings/chitlins - battered and fried pig intestines.

What does "dog won't hunt" mean?

that dog won't hunt - an idea or plan that isn’t going to work (Good try, son, but that dog won't hunt.) useful as a trap door on a canoe - useless, unhelpful. (That new sequined dress of hers is about as useful as a trap door on a canoe.) Advertisement.

What does "hankerin" mean?

Just by looking at this word it really makes no sense at all. However, if you’ve got a hankerin ’ for something (yes, drop the “g” at the end as is the way for most Southern words) then it means you’re craving it. While it’s usually referring to a craving for some type of comfort food, it can really mean anything. “Man, I’ve got a hankerin’ for biscuits and gravy.”

What does "down yonder" mean?

When it comes to Southern slang, this is one you’ll want to learn fast. Down yonder means “over there ,” basically.

What does "well I'll be" mean?

This Southern slang phrase sounds as if someone’s not yet finished their sentence. You’ll be what?! However, that’s it. Well I’ll be is just another way to express shock or surprise. You might also hear it used as “well I’ll be damned.” However, either way is fine. It sounds especially sweet when spoken out of the mouth of an older Southern lady, but really anybody can use it.

Why do people say "Oh bless your heart"?

There’s a reason Southern states are known for being so friendly. People here are as sweet as pecan pie, which is why they’ll usually exclaim “Oh, bless your heart” when something bad happens. However, this one can also be used sarcastically, too.

What does "all y'all" mean?

Y’all is the Southern contraction of you all , and it’s meant to be used for when you’re addressing more than one person. If you’re talking to a large group of people, you can emphasise it by saying all y’all. 2. Down Yonder.

Where does Elizabeth live?

Elizabeth has lived and worked in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, all of which have contributed to her passion for travel writing. When she's not writing, you can find her exploring little hideouts in Colombia or watching photography tutorials on YouTube.

What does the word "catawampus" mean?

This word sounds like something that belongs in Harry Potter, but catawampus (sometimes spelled cattywampus) is a fixture in everyday Southern speech. It describes something that's askew, awry, or diagonal, as in "we tried setting it up straight, but it ended up catawampus."

What does "doohickey" mean?

This word might sound funny, but you won't be laughing once you see how versatile it is. Calling something a "doohickey" means you forget what the item is actually called. The word is synonymous with the phrases "thing-a-ma-jig" and "whatsit."

What does "washeteria" mean?

This word means just what it sounds like: A place to do your washing. Most of the country would call it a self-service Laundromat, but "washeteria" has a nice ring to it. Washeteria started as a chain of Laundromats in Texas and then took off as a synonym for Laundromat itself.

What does "fixin to do something" mean?

But in Dixie Land, "fixin' to do something" means getting ready to do it. Leave the G off or you might sound too big for your britches.

What does "hush up" mean in the South?

Instead of saying “shut up,” you will likely hear Southern mothers telling their kids to “hush up.” As Ronda Rich wrote in the Gainesville Times, saying “shut up” was considered rude and on-par with other “swear words,” so the softer “hush up” is used in its place. The word “hush” dates back to the Middle English word “hussht” which came from “huissht”—an interjection used to enjoin silence. It’s first known use was in 1546 and eventually, it made it to the South.

What do you call a sweet carbonated drink?

One way to determine which part of the country someone is from is to ask them what they call a sweet carbonated beverage. Those in the Northeast usually say “soda,” while Midwesterners prefer “pop.” Southerners, on the other hand, tend to refer to any type of soft drink as “Coke.” So why is this the case? One theory is that because Coca Cola originated in the South—Atlanta to be specific — and was the first mass-marketed soft drink, the word caught on as a catch-all term and never went away. Speaking of, you’ll want to know the real difference between Coke and Pepsi.

What is the origin of the word "y'all"?

If you asked someone from outside the South—or outside of the United States—to name one Southern word, chances are they’ll go for “y’all.” Yes, it’s a combination of the words “you all,” but it’s more than that, and there’s no universally agreed-upon origin story. Some theorize that it dates back to the plural form of “you” found in Old English. Another possible explanation is that it descends from the Scots-Irish “ye aw” rather than “you all.”

When was the term "tump" first used?

Though we don’t know the exact origin, it was thought to have been first recorded at some point between 1580 and 1590, and may be related to the British word “tumpoke” which means “to fall head-over-heels.”

Who is Sam Hill?

Though the exact origin is murky, one possible explanation is that the real-life Sam Hill, a surveyor for the copper-mining industry, had a tendency to curse a lot. So, rather than curse themselves, people who submit Sam Hill’s name for the frowned-upon word.

What does "over yonder" mean?

Ask someone for directions in the South, and chances are they may refer to a place being “over yonder.” Usually accompanied by pointing in the general direction of the place, “yonder” tends to be at a distance, yet not too far — possibly within eyesight, according to Miriam Webster. Southern Living explains that “yonder” is a combination of the Dutch “ginder” (meaning “over there”) and the English word “yon.”

What does "when something is not right" mean?

When something is not right, we want people to know it. In parts of the South, if something is askew or crooked you could say that it’s “cattywampus,” also spelled “catawampus.” It can also be used in place of the phrase “kitty-corner.” Though no one is sure of the word’s specific origins, we do know that it has been around for more than a century and may have derived from the Scots word “wampish,” meaning to “wriggle,” “twist” or “swerve.”

What is the idiom for "beat around the bush"?

The idiom is normally used in the negative. 96. Beatin’ around the bush. In bird hunts some of the participants roused the birds by beating the bushes and enabling others, to use a much later phrase, to ‘cut to the chase’ and catch the quarry in nets.

What does "a month of Sundays" mean?

The expression “a month of Sundays” was first used in 1832. It originally meant a long dreary time since games and other kinds of amusement were forbidden on Sundays. Now it is used as a hyperbole to mean a very long time.

What does "slow as molasses" mean?

1. Slow as molasses. to move or function in a slow sloth like way, esp. compared to cooking molasses in a slow cooker. 2. Fixin’ to. one is about to do something or it is in the process of being done. 3. Hold your horses. Hold on; be patient.

What does "take your own sweet time" mean?

Take your own sweet time. to use as much time as is needed; not rush; can also be used in a tone of exasperation because an individual is not moving fast enough or with purpose. 8. Once in a blue moon. Owing to the rarity of a blue moon, the term “blue moon” is used colloquially to mean a rare event. 9.

What does "going to town" mean?

Goin’ to town. to give something a lot of attention and do something to the full extent or with enthusiasm. Eg. He is really going to town on that hamburger; Can also mean that one is literally doing to town, as in the store (usually Wal-mart) or out to run errands. 12.

What does "sick as a dog" mean?

40. Sick as a dawg. “Sick as a dog,” which means “extremely sick” and dates back to at least the 17th century, is also not so much negative as it is simply descriptive.

What does "tuckered out" mean?

The actual derivation of this phrase is quite prosaic. ‘Tucker’ is a colloquial New England word, coined in the early 19th century, meaning ‘to tire’ or ‘to become weary’. ‘Tuckered out’ is just a straightforward use of that. ‘Plumb’ is just an intensifier.

Origins of uniquely Southern words

We Southerners love colorful words like "cattywampus" and "lollygag" and "tarnation." Often, we use them without considering why we do or where they originated.

Turns out, all the best Southern foods come from Virginia

Barbecue. Macaroni and cheese. Brunswick stew. Whiskey. These are all immediately recognized as Southern culinary gifts that have been granted to the world. Places like South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee are often included in the conversation when it comes to talking about those dishes – yet Virginia is rarely mentioned.

I visited Buc-ee's for the first time and, yep, it's impressive

I just made my first real road trip through a small part of the Lone Star state, after years of only seeing it from the windows of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.