Alabama/Southern slang (Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Leeds: retire, move, rain)

[bamagirl924]

Well, I'm a GRIT(S) -Girl Raised In The South - but I still don't know why some people call the noon meal "dinner," and the evening meal "supper." To me, the noon meal is "lunch," and if I'm going out in the evening, I'm going "out to dinner." Also, I've always thought it was funny how people talk about cooking "a mess of" something - that can be anything from beans to fish, but especially turnip greens!

Oh yeah, another favorite: I'm going "over yonder" to the neighbor's house or "in yonder" to another room, or "out yonder" to the back yard!

[Victor912]

I live in CA.... that will sooon change.... But all of my grand parents were pretty much born and raised in the South. How about "I'm fixin/goin to make groceries......"

Has anyone else heard that one???

[nalabama]

bamagirl924, do you have the preacher over for "Sunday lunch" or "Sunday dinner"? Now, I'm asking you, which one sounds right? Either way, dinner is commonly defined as the main meal of the day: in the evening on weekdays, in the early afternoon on weekends; alternately, in the evening in the city, around noon in the country. In the country, the "dinner bell" was commonly used to call the folks in from the fields for the mid-day meal, with supper coming after the evening chores. On my grandparent's farm, the mid-day dinner was the only time you ever rung the dinner bell, because any other time it was the fire bell and you'd end up serving all the neighbors sweet tea and pie if one of us younguns rang it at the wrong time!! A switchin' usually followed directly after all the neighbors left.

[bamagirl924]

Originally Posted by nalabama

...dinner is commonly defined as the main meal of the day: in the evening on weekdays, in the early afternoon on weekends; alternately, in the evening in the city, around noon in the country.

That makes perfect sense! Thank you, nalabama! And I'm glad you warned me about the fire bell!

[Bama1257]

"I am fixin' to go over yonder. U onna go?

[MDgirlMovingSouth]

My friend is from Alabama and cracks me up with his "fixin to" do something remarks. He also says lunch but calls what I consider dinner, supper.

I also noticed he says expressions like "turn them loose" instead of "let them go", and tote instead of carry.

[RETIRED AF VET]

JUST FOR THE RECORD------

"Yall" is singular and "all yall" is plural. So don't go "gettin your panties in a wad" trying to make it different than it really is. Otherwise I'll have to be on you like "white on rice"! Of course, if you are bigger than me, I will just "lite a shuck"! Have a great day!!

[RETIRED AF VET]

Tips for Northerners Moving South

Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later how to use it.

If you forget a Southerner's name, refer to him (or her) as "Bubba". You have a 75% chance of being right.

Just because you can drive on snow and ice does not mean we can. Stay home the two days of the year it snows.

If you do run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in the cab of a four wheel drive with a 12-pack of beer and a towchain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them. Just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store.

If it can't be fried in bacon grease, it ain't worth cooking, let alone eating.

Remember: "Y'all" is singular. "All y'all" is plural. "All y'all's" is plural possessive.

Get used to hearing, "You ain't from around here, are you?"

People walk slower here.

Don't be worried that you don't understand anyone. They don't understand you either.

The first Southern expression to creep into a transplanted Northerner's vocabulary is the adjective "Big ol'", as in "big ol' truck" or "big ol' boy". Eighty-five percent begin their new southern influenced dialect with this expression. One hundred percent are in denial about it.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper.

Be advised: The "He needed killin'" defense is valid here.

If attending a funeral in the South, remember, we stay until the last shovel of dirt is thrown on and the tent is torn down.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this!" stay out of his way. These might be the last words he will ever say.

Most Southerners do not use turn signals, and they ignore those who do. In fact, if you see a signal blinking on a car with a southern license plate, you may rest assured that it was on when the car was purchased.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the most minuscule accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It does not matter if you need anything from the store, it is just something you're supposed to do.

Satellite dishes are very popular in the South. When you purchase one it is to be positioned directly in front of your trailer. This is logical bearing in mind that the dish cost considerably more than the trailer and should, therefore, be displayed.

Tornadoes and Southerners going through a divorce have a lot in common. In either case, you know someone is going to lose a trailer.

As you are cursing the person driving 15 mph in a 55mph zone, directly in the middle of the road, remember, many folks learned to drive on a model of vehicle known as John Deere, and this is the proper speed and lane position for the vehicle.

You can ask a Southerner for directions, but unless you already know the positions of key hills, trees and rocks, you're better off trying to find it yourself.

Now, when you come down here you gonna be treated so many different ways you just gotta like one of 'em!

[jaskoyle]

How 'bout:

Snatch a crick in you're neck (if you've been bad)

She could talk the hind leg off a donkey

Dad-gum!!

[southernnaturelover]

My grandmother has always used the expression "well I'll declare". It's a sign of when she's frustrated with something. For example, if she were to burn the food or spill something, she'd say "well I'll declare"! Another southern term is "holler". We don't shout or scream, we holler. Many older people add an "er" to the end of words. Window is "wynder", pizza is "peetzer", Linda is "Lynder". I can't even spell the southen slang for words like glass and ass. LOL