"Where you at?"

[NY Disney fan]

I hear this every single day in various places. Is this a new trend? Because I don't like it.

 

[happygirl]

I hear this every single day in various places. Is this a new trend? Because I don't like it.

Are people on phones when they say thiis?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I hear this every single day in various places. Is this a new trend? Because I don't like it.

Yeah, along with "axing sump'n" (asking something).

Seriously hurts my brain every. single. time. I hear it!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is slang from the "hood".

 

[NY Disney fan]

Are people on phones when they say thiis?

No they just say it when inquiring about someone. Or on a cell phone.

 

[NY Disney fan]

It is slang from the "hood".

Funny because I'm hearing a lot of over 30s use it.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I ask were are you? Is that acceptable?

 

[NY Disney fan]

I ask were are you? Is that acceptable?

In civil society, yes.

 

[FireDancer]

OP, Y U B trippin yo?

 

[NY Disney fan]

OP, Y U B trippin yo?

I think becuase my 44 year old co-worker says "where you at?" and it drives me nuts.

 

[Deb in IA]

Sigh.


Verbs - a dying species.

 

[ragdoll]

Where you at? You coming with? Drives me crazy!

 

[Swan4Me]

Are you in 'Nawlins?

Where Y'at
Is a nawlins expression!

Yat dialect



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Yat is a dialect of English spoken in the Greater New Orleans Area. The term refers to those people who speak with the Yat accent and dialect of New Orleanians throughout the city. The name comes from the common use amongst said people of the greeting, "Where y'at?" (Where are you at?), which is a way of asking, "How are you?" The Yat dialect has its influences from Louisiana French and Southern American English, particularly Older Southern American English as well as from the presence of European languages brought with immigrants to the city. Port cities like New Orleans and New York (with regards to the surrounding Burroughs) have encouraged the growth of similar dialects as both cities attracted many European immigrants during the 19th century. The result has yielded similar dialects which combine sounds from Irish, German, Italian and many other immigrant's speech which have blended with the local dialect to create a new variant.[1]

While the term Yat is usually reserved specifically for the strongest varieties of the New Orleans dialect, the term often refers specifically to speakers of Yat in some parts of the city and the inner suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana. Though Yat is said to be the language of the Ninth Ward, "Yat" is one of many sub-dialects of the New Orleans dialect that is spoken throughout the city

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

"Where you at?"

I'm in your base killin your dudes.

I guess I'm just a fan of RTS games. :rotfl2

 

[NotUrsula]

Have you been hanging around a large number of transplanted New Orleanians?

In certain working-class areas of New Orleans, "where y'at?" is the all-purpose greeting of choice, equivalent to "Hi, how are you?" It is so pervasive in certain neighborhoods that the phrase has become a shorthand nickname for people who speak that way; they are referred to colloquially as "Yats". (Ironically in this case, most Southerners think that Yats sound something like folks from Brooklyn.)

To test the New Orleans origin theory, just respond, "Awright." If the speaker looks at you funny, you'll know the person is not really a Yat, just someone trying to sound ethnic.

PS: Yats also say "axe" for ask. (A friend of mine who teaches grade school in St. Bernard likes to have fun with this. These are kids who know Mardi Gras well. My friend likes to write the work MASK on her board and have the kids say it aloud -- every single one of them will correctly pronounce MASK. Then she will put her hand over the M and ask them to read what it left -- and every single one of them will say "AXE". It drives her nuts.)

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Yeah, along with "axing sump'n" (asking something).

"ax" was a perfectly acceptable way to pronounce "ask" in Middle English. In the US, that pronunciation was retained in some parts of the south even though it changed to "ask" everywhere else.

 

[Robinrs]

Two songs:

Lil Wayne - Where You At

Where you at? (OH!)
All my soldiers if you with me
Where you at? (OH!)
All my hustlaz if you with me
Where you at? (OH!)
Where you at? (OH!)
Where you at? Say (OH!)




BAAAAAD English...ugh.

 

[Robinrs]

"ax" was a perfectly acceptable way to pronounce "ask" in Middle English. In the US, that pronunciation was retained in some parts of the south even though it changed to "ask" everywhere else.

The only people I know who say ax instead of ask are in NY. It's driven me NUTS for years!

How can it be acceptable? It's ask backwards!

 

[NY Disney fan]

Oh thanks Robin. I kinda figured that this term didn't come out of thin air. Someone had to introduce it into society.

 

[JustRZ]

"ax" was a perfectly acceptable way to pronounce "ask" in Middle English. In the US, that pronunciation was retained in some parts of the south even though it changed to "ask" everywhere else.

Source? Not being combative, I truly don't believe it.