Local words or phrases that you hate

[Dizneefamily+4]

Like some pp have already said, "I seen it" instead of "I saw it" just kills me every time I hear it. And it's quite common in these parts. I also hate "pitcher" instead of "picture." Apparently some of you can't stand "y'all." And I've always wished I could use it (especially instead of cringeworthy "you guys") - it just doesn't fly/sound natural in a Wisconsin accent!

 

[teambeaman]

Conversate. It's not a word. The word is converse, and it makes people sound extremely unintelligent.

 

[EMom]

Like some pp have already said, "I seen it" instead of "I saw it" just kills me every time I hear it. And it's quite common in these parts. I also hate "pitcher" instead of "picture." Apparently some of you can't stand "y'all." And I've always wished I could use it (especially instead of cringeworthy "you guys") - it just doesn't fly/sound natural in a Wisconsin accent!

I lived in a dorm in Australia and after having lived there a bit, realized I was influencing the dorm lingo. A good many were fans of my "y'all" and began using it. "Y'all" with an Australian accent will stop you dead in your tracks.

In Texas, I hear them called buggies or carts. But when visiting a friend in England, he called them lorries. Then he got into some discussion with his young son that for some reason, made him despair that the kid was going to turn out to be a slacker. He told his son that if he didn't well in school, he'd wind up as a lorry gatherer at Tesco's. (cart gatherer at a grocery store) The boy quickly replied that such a job would be brilliant. I asked him if he realized the kid was yanking his chain, but he wasn't sure. I am happy to report that the son is now an adult and has not become a lorry gatherer at Tesco's.

 

[Tozzie]

Isn't Long Island also the name of the burrough/neighborhood and not just the geographical feature? So the same thing as saying 'I live in Orlando.'?

Long Island is actually Nassau and Suffolk County and each is comprised of many different towns and villiages. None are specifically named none named Long Island

 

[Turn the Page]

Also, Ladies. Like in "ladies night" or "How are you ladies doing?" Not sure why, but it feels like a creepy guy saying it every time.

Ladies never bothered me but my dad refers to women as gals. He will say things like "this gal at work" or things like that. Gal and broad always struck me as very derogatory.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

It's funny, if you asked someone here for "Sweet tea" they would probably give you a cup of hot tea, and some sugar. Here it's Iced tea, and it's only available sweetened.

Once made the mistake of saying to a southerner, "What's the deal with sweet tea, can't you just take a glass of tea and put some sugar in it"?

You would think I insulted somebody's religion or something.

 

[mumto3girls]

We are Pittsburghers who lived outside of Boston for a year. Strollers and shopping carts were called carriages there. We use stroller here for the thing you push a baby in and just cart for a shopping cart. My grandmother, who was born and raised here would have called both a buggy. I love the different regional phrases, but some things do make me crazy--I seen and it don't both make me cringe. My neighbor uses both all the time. She is educated too. I always wonder if she doesn't hear how she sounds--she must not. I shouldn't talk though--the dropping of the to be after needs doesn't sound incorrect to me and I was shocked when someone pointed out to me in a writing class in college that it was wrong. I try to remember to put the to be in there, but I am probably guilty of forgetting sometimes and saying--this needs cleaned, that needs vacuumed etc.

 

[CaliBear]

"The Carolinas". This place does not exist, NC and SC are two distinct states that are not even all that similar. I don't hear this locally because we natives know the difference, it's always outsiders.

There are many regions grouped together: "the Southwest", "New England", "the Dakotas", "the midwest" etc. It's not that people don't know the difference between two states, and no "outsider" says it to insult you or your state.

Reminded me of the opening part of " Everyone Loves Raymond " when he says we live IN Long Island ..no you dope you live ON Long Island

Both are correct and "on" is only correct because it is an island. "In" is correct for any region. I used to live in Cali. I didn't live on Cali. Same thing. But you can use both for LI so Raymond is not a dope.

 

[mrsklamc]

That one drives me NUTS! Especially when people pronounce Dawn and Don the same way. Dawn is pronounced d-AWE-n. It's not pronounced with a short o vowel sound as in Don nor with an "ow" sound.

I am sitting here trying to pronounce them differently and I can't figure out how.

 

[mrsklamc]

I'm the UK and thoroughly enjoying this thread.

Some posts however,I simply can't work out-e.g. what does corn hole mean?

Some places it's a bean bag toss game. Some places it's an anatomical reference.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

That one drives me NUTS! Especially when people pronounce Dawn and Don the same way. Dawn is pronounced d-AWE-n. It's not pronounced with a short o vowel sound as in Don nor with an "ow" sound.

My brother's name is Donald (as was my father's) and my name is Dawn. Any time someone from out-of-state called and asked for "Don" I would have to ask them Dawn or Donald b/c both sounded the same to me when I heard the caller say the name. Thankfully, I haven't had that problem now that I have a family of my own.

those two sound exactly the same to my ear. Aw and o are the exact same sound. Exact. I can make a differentiation if I pronounce your name "Dwonn" - but then I sound like I'm from Pennsylvania and I refuse.

Sorry

 

[cybrkitn]

those two sound exactly the same to my ear. Aw and o are the exact same sound. Exact. I can make a differentiation if I pronounce your name "Dwonn" - but then I sound like I'm from Pennsylvania and I refuse.

Sorry

Maybe in the long sound of the "o" ("oh") but not the short vowel sound which sounds like "Ahh". You wouldn't say the word "awe" as "ahh". For example, you wouldn't say that you were in "ahh" of something. You would say that you were in "awe".

(Slightly OT here) What it comes down to though is the area you are from. It's like the test that someone posted a link to a while ago on another thread about the words Mary, Merry and Marry. Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled thread...

 

[mrsklamc]

Maybe in the long sound of the "o" ("oh") but not the short vowel sound which sounds like "Ahh". You wouldn't say the word "awe" as "ahh". For example, you wouldn't say that you were in "ahh" of something. You would say that you were in "awe".

(Slightly OT here) What it comes down to though is the area you are from. It's like the test that someone posted a link to a while ago on another thread about the words Mary, Merry and Marry. Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled thread...

Ahhh is exactly how I say the word awe.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

"Youse".

 

[KristaTX]

I also usually say Dawn and Don and ahhh and awe the same way, but I *can*say them differently if I try. I do say awwww (as in cute kittens) slightly differently from ahhh and awe. But if I do that do Dawn I sound like I'm on the old "Coffee Talk" SNL skit . "Cawwwfeee".


On the other hand, I can't for the life of me figure out how to say Mary/merry/marry differently from each other. That one always comes up on these threads. They sound identical here.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I also usually say Dawn and Don and ahhh and awe the same way, but I *can*say them differently if I try.

On the other hand, I can't for the life of me figure out how to say Mary/merry/marry differently from each other. That one always comes up on these threads. They sound identical here.

To me, Mary and marry are the same, merry is different.

But Dawn and Don are different to me, too.

 

[JVL1018]

I also usually say Dawn and Don and ahhh and awe the same way, but I *can*say them differently if I try. I do say awwww (as in cute kittens) slightly differently from ahhh and awe. But if I do that do Dawn I sound like I'm on the old "Coffee Talk" SNL skit . "Cawwwfeee". On the other hand, I can't for the life of me figure out how to say Mary/merry/marry differently from each other. That one always comes up on these threads. They sound identical here.

Interesting-do they sound the same to you when people who pronounce them differently say them?
They are long a, short e, short a to me.
My dad and brother are Don, my cousin is Dawn, which are totally different to me, but people from other areas don't enunciate that w like we do. LOL
I did have someone laugh at the way I said dog. DAWG. Whatever. Get on line. ;-)

I'm another one that never says I'm from Jersey, and I cringe when people say it. Always NEW Jersey for me.

Oh this is a new thing to me: People calling sweatshirts,-you know hoodies or the ones with the zipper up the front-sweaters.
That drives me nuts!

 

[lilkimmyk]

I used to live on an area of Florida where people pronounced local city names containing the letters 'en' as 'ing'-- Ellenton became "Ellington" when spoken and Bradenton became "Bradington". Drove me nuts.

Most people there also called the Gulf 'the golf'. Two different words, people.

This is so true lol! My aunt (R.I.P. auntie) moved from NJ to FL and always pronounced Bradenton that way. It wasn't until she took me there to the beach when I did a double take at a sign and realized that is where she was talking about!

And my uncle always said 'the golf' too. Took me a while to understand that as well.


In my neck of the woods the favorite words are "you's guys" and "hennah"

 

[hops&dreams]

Someone at work today just sent me an email that said "alot" in it. I don't think this is a local issue, but she really didn't know that it was wrong.

If you don't know who ^that^ is - and you have a few mins - please read this post - it is hilarious!
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

And if you have another few minutes, also read her "How a fish almost destroyed my childhood" story. I laughed so hard that I cried.

alot... ugh!

 

[msjprincess]

There are many regions grouped together: "the Southwest", "New England", "the Dakotas", "the midwest" etc. It's not that people don't know the difference between two states, and no "outsider" says it to insult you or your state.



Both are correct and "on" is only correct because it is an island. "In" is correct for any region. I used to live in Cali. I didn't live on Cali. Same thing. But you can use both for LI so Raymond is not a dope.

I think the PP's point was no one in the NY area would ever say "in LI". And since Ray Romano is from here he should know that.