How to Translate Southernisms

   I know that many of my blogging friends are coming to Nashville, Tennessee on May 28 thru 30, 2015 for the BlogPaws conference from all over the world.  One of my duties as a BlogPaws Ambassador is to make sure that you are prepared for the adventure.  Since I'm the GRITS (Girl Raised in the South) of the group, I thought I could do my part to familiarize you with some of our 'southernisms' sayings and pronunciations.

Y’all: rhymes with ball ~ (1) Y’all means two or more people (2) All y’all is a larger group of people  Example:  What sessions are y’all taking at the conference?  Are all y’all going to stay at the Sheraton?

“G”: You will notice a lack of the letter “g” at the end of words.  We don’t use it and we aren’t fixin’ to start.

Fixin’: This means that you are preparing to do something, but not actually doing it yet.  Example: I am fixin’ to make a list of the things I need to pack. I'm fixin' to go to sleep.  *We also fix supper, fix our hair & makeup, and get in a fix.

Same things, but different names

Y’all say:                                                  We say:

Shopping carts                                            Buggies

Laundromat                                                Washateria

Crayfish                                                      Crawfish/Mudbugs

Lightening Bugs                                           Fireflies

Dinner                                                        Supper

Hero/Sub Sandwich                                     Po’Boys

Drinking fountains                                       Water fountains

Wallet                                                         Billfold

Heavy rain                                                  Gullywasher

Stubborn                                                    Onery

Pants                                                          Britches                                    

Don’t Be Surprised If…

Your server asks what kind of coke that you want.  Coke is southern for soda, not actually Coca-Cola.

Your tea is sweet and served in a Mason jar.

Perfect strangers strike up a conversation with you in a line. 

Strangers wave and say “Hey y’all!”

Cars pull over for a funeral procession.

*Special Tip: We never tease about our football teams.  Ever.

We say, “Yes ma’am" and "No ma’am”  “Yes Sir and No sir” regardless of age.

You might hear someone say:

We say…                                            We mean…

D’jeet yet?                                         Have you eaten?

I reckon                                             Probably

Sunday go-to-meeting clothes              Dress up

Are those the good scissors?                Did you find the new pair?

Sweatin’ like a sinner on Sunday.         You are nervous.

This ain’t my first rodeo.                      Been there, done that.

Plumb tuckered out                             Tired

I wouldn’t tie my dog to it.                   I don’t really trust it.

Shut the front door!                             Are you kidding?

Gimme some sugar.                             Kiss me!

Quit being ugly.                                   Don’t be mean.

Going to                                              Gonna

*We say, “Bless your heart” a lot.  It can be used sincerely as a sympathetic sentiment.  Example:  “I’m so sorry to hear about the surgery.  Bless his heart.”  It can also be used to try to take the bite out of an insult.  Example:  “She has got the absolute worst taste in clothes.  Bless her heart.” 

   I hope this prepares you for the foreign language of southerners.  You will find that for the most part, we are an extremely friendly group of folks.  It would be terrific to meet all of y’all in Nashville for the BlogPaws conference.  I will be happy to help translate if you are stuck on anything.  If you haven’t ordered your tickets yet, don’t wait!  They are selling fast and with my discount code, you can save 10% ~ BP15-Amb-Melissa-10 

   We are lookin’ forward to seein’ all y’all in 70 days at the Sheraton Music City in Nashville.  That is if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise!

   Barking from the Bayou has a winner in the Long Live Pets campaign with Nature’s Variety and The Best Friends Animal Society.  The lucky person is

Millie and Walter from Bird Brains and Dog Tales 

They won a bag of Nature’s Variety Instinct Rawboost Munchies.  Bentley and Pierre say that y’all will love them!  Congratulations!

  I was excited to see the winner that randomly chosen by Rafflecopter. Millie and Walter’s mom is Cindy and I know her from Blogville.  When I admired our honorable Mayor Doods Murphy and Stanley’s snazzy bandannas, they told me that Cindy’s mom had made them.  She is the owner of the Etsy shop, Cindy’s Thread Craft.  

   Bentley is joining me at the BlogPaws conference and I wanted something special for him to wear.  After discussing my options with Cindy, she designed this gorgeous Barking from the Bayou bandanna.  I absolutely love it.  She is working on a top-secret one for him now.  If you are interested in her bandannas or any of the other cool things that she makes, visit her shop today.  We recommend her whole-heartedly.

  This is our Thoughtless Thursday blog post.  I co-host this fun hop each week with my blogging buddies, Ruckus the Eskie and Love is being owned by a Husky.  Hop along by joining in or clicking to visit these other “Thoughtless” blogs.