St. Louis local slang and jargon

[glamatomic]

Originally Posted by STLCityMike

I was told that Gravois is actually Indian, not French. And that is why we pronouce it like Illinois.

Actually, Illinois is a French Word meaning Land of Illini (referring to a native word for Warrior, although a number of tribes fell under the banner of 'Illini'). The traditional pronunciation when the French named it would have been Ill-i-nwah. Similarly, Detroit is also a French word meaning 'strait' and would have been pronounced Day-twah.

Gravois is the French word for Gravel. Even if our 'Gravoyy' was inspired by an Indian name originally, I highly doubt that the original French settlers would have pronounced it as such (just as Illinois was not originally Ill-i-noy).

It's okay though... we'd all sound far too pompous if every foreign name in America was pronounced the traditional way Although some of the Americanizations irk me- I just go along with them anyhow, even if I have difficulty with a few!

[silibran]

Originally Posted by silibran

St. Louisans do not throw things out, they "pitch" them.

Drar, for drawer.

"The Bread Company" for St. Louis Bread.

From old time St. Louisans, "wienies" for hot dogs and "sody" for soft drinks. From real old time St. Louisans, "zinc" for the kitchen sink. From old time conservative St. Louisans, "that commie rag" for the Post-Dispatch.

If you listen to voices in old movies, you will hear similar pronunciations of the "ar" sounds in many words. Perhaps our pronunciation is just old fashioned.

I forgot to add "mir" for mirror.

Occasionally I heard "libary" for library and "chiminey" for chimney. But I think those pronunciations are very old fashioned now.