Living in New England is like being in a whole different country. We use different nouns for common every day items, such as;
1. Bureau = dresser.
2. Side board = counter top
3. Tag sale = garage sale
4. Soda = pop
5. Italians = subs
6. Cunnin' = cute
7. Built like a brick sh*t house = hunk
8. Dooryard = more than likely the front yard, but whatever yard the door opens up to.
9. Johnnie = Hospital gown.
***Here are some useful sayings and pronunciations to help on your visit to our fair New England.***
Going to college in Boston? "Mary-mutha-ah-gawd, you gotta be wicked smaht!"
But we bet you don't know some things. Like, what's a three decka? A packie? How about a rotary? Ever banged a U-ey? Worn dungarees or ordered a frappe? Even a Rhodes scholar would have a tough time deciphering the language Boston calls its own.
"New Englanders have had a long and strong tradition of eccentric ways of expressing themselves, especially in Boston," said Boston University Linguistics professor Michael Feldman. "It's very distinctive."
Indeed ~ and we'd have a wickid time tryin' to stump ya, then make fun of ya behind ya back . . . but that's wicked mean.
Instead, here's a little primah to take with you on the T, while you're on the Common or in the Gahden, maybe catchin' a Pats game or sipping a regulah coffee at Dunkies.
American Chop Suey ~ Found in school cafeterias, this delightful dish
doesn't resemble anything American or Chinese. It's macaroni with meat and tomato sauce.
Bangin' a U-ey ~ This is what you do while driving after you miss a turn and you have to turn around.
Book it ~ To high-tail it someplace, as in, "I better book it to Stah Mahket before it closes."
Bubblah ~ Spelled bubbler, it's a water fountain.
Der ~ An interjection indicating disdain for someone else's stupidity, as in, "The old Gahden was way betta than the Fleet! Der!"
Down Cella ~ The basement. As in; "run down cella and get me a dishtowel outta the drya." Derived from upstairs.
Dungarees ~ Jeans. Hardly heard anymore, unless you're at some sort of senior citizens event.
The Gahden ~ it's called the Fleet Centah now, but nobody calls it that - it's still the Bahston Gahden.
Frappe ~ What the rest of the nation calls a milkshake. But in Boston, a milkshake is just flavored milk; no ice cream allowed.
Fried and Bizaah ~ Weird. "That dude is wicked fried." "Yah, he's totally bizaah."
Fudge-icle ~ To the rest of the world, a frozen chocolate pop is a Fudgesicle, but in Boston, the 's' is silent.
Goin' down the island ~ Headin' South to hop a ferry to Mahtha's Vinyahd or Nantucket.
Hermits and black and whites ~ Cookies. A hermit is a molasses and raisin bar. Black and whites, known anywhere else as half moons or half and halfs, are round, cakelike cookies with chocolate frosting on one half, vanilla on the other.
Jimmies ~ Sprinkles you put on ice cream.
Packie ~ Liquor Store. You'll have to make a packie run if you want a kegga (keg party.)
Rotary ~ traffic circle. And in Massachusetts, those in the rotary have the right of way.
Scrod ~ a generic name for white fish. We think it's cod, but no one's sure. Usually breaded and laden with butter.
****I can sense English teachers about to scratch their eyes out over these three***
1)Not For Nothin’ ~ is used in a variety of forms, kinda like saying “in my opinion” eg: “not for nothin’ but I thinking this year’s election will be close.”
2)So Wouldn’t I ~ is used to agree with a statement eg: “I’d like to go to the Bahamas ta get away from all dis snow.” “so wouldn’t I”
3)So Don't I/So Aren't I ~ So do I, So am I. "I have tickets to Aerosmith tonight." "Oh my Gawd, so don't I!" "No Suh!" "Yah huh."
Three Decker ~ Pronounced three decka, it's a three story house in which each story is a separate apartment.
A time ~ A party. "We're going to a time for Sully at McGuire's."
Tonic ~ Coca Cola, Sprite, Pepsi.......it's called sodahhhhhhh.
Wicked ~ Extremely. "Nomaaah's a wicked good baseball playa."
Yah huh and no suh ~ Yes and no. Usually heard during an intense conversation. "I saw Mickey at Castle Island and he was with another girl." "No SUH!" "Yah huh."
Other tips:
Don't say COPEly Square, it's COPley.
Don't say public transportation - it's "the T."
Worcester isn't WOOster or Worchester, it's Wisstah.
Gloucester isn't Glawchester - it's Glosstah.
It's not PLYmouth - it's Plimuth.
Don't say Provincetown - It's P'town.
Say Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue or Dorchester Avenue and
you'll get pinched. It's Comm. Ave, Mass. Ave and Dot. Ave.
And the debate on the word "scallop" ~ OK out-of-statahs, repeat after me - say Gal, Sal, Pal - now, how do you pronounce "All," how do you pronounce "Call" and "Small-so just because you put an sc in front it's different? NOTTT! So don't say scaaaaaallops - It's scawwwwwllups.
If someone asks you if you have Patriot's Day off: this is a state holiday commemorating the "shot heard round the world" in 17 something....it is also the day of the running of the Bahston Marathawn.
We have simplified things and taken away all the rrrrrrrr's. The way we figure it, we have NO accent - you do!!!!
BOSTONIANS!!! . . . . love us or leave us!
