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- Jun 13, 2013
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From the book “How To Speak Southern”,
and
“More How To Speak Southern”
Caint: Cannot. “Ah just caint understand why this checkbook won’t balance.”
Carry: To convey from one place to another, usually by automobile. “Can you carry me down to the store in yo’ car?”
Cawse: Cause, usually preceded in the South by the adjective “lawst” (lost). “The War Between the States was a lawst cawse.”
Cayut: A furry animal much beloved by little girls but detested by adults when it engages in mating rituals in the middle of the night. “Be sure to put the cayut outside before you go to bed.”
Cent: The plural of cent. “You paid five dollars for that necktie? Ah wouldn’t give fifty cent for it.”
Chalstun: A city in South Carolina that Yankees call the Cradle of Secession. “Ah don’t know why they’re so upset. All we wanted was Fort Sumter back.”
Cheer: A piece of furniture used for sitting. “Pull up a cheer and set a spell.”
Chekatawlfarya?: An expression that is rapidly disappearing because of the gasoline shortage, but one that still may be heard by baffled Yankees at service stations in small Southern towns. It translates as “Check that oil for you?”
Chimbley: What smoke comes out of. “Ah bleeve that chimbley’s stopped up.”
Chitlins: It is said that there are two things you should never see being made: laws and sausages. Chitlins are another. Chitlins, which can smell up the whole county when being cooked, are boiled and fried hog intestines. Delicious, if you can forget what they are. “Ah’ll have another plate of them chitlins.”
Chunk: To throw. “Chunk it in there, Leroy. Ole Leroy sure can chunk ’at ball, can’t he? Best pitcher we ever had.”
Claws: An appendage to a legal document. “You’d be advised to study that claws very carefully.”
Clawth: A woven material from which clothes are made. “Let me have three yards of that clawth, please.”
Clone: A type of scent men put on themselves. “What’s that clone you got on, honey?”
Co-cola: The soft drink that started in Atlanta and conquered the world. “Ah hear they even sell Co-cola in Russia.”
Collards: A variety of kale, also known as greens. Southerners love them cooked with fatback, also known as the bacon that didn’t quite make it. “Pass the collards, please.”
Collie flare: A crisp white vegetable that is surprisingly good once you get past the appearance. “Lots of boxers have collie flare ears.”
Comin’ up a cloud: An approaching storm. “Stay close to the house. It’s comin’ up a cloud.”
Commence to: To start or engage in some activity. “They got in a argyment, and the next thing you know, they commence to fight.”
Commite nigh: To come very close to. “When -Sue--Ann caught her husband kissin’ that waitress from the Blue Moon, she commite nigh killin’ him.”
Contrack: A legal document, usually heavily in favor of the party who draws it up. “It’s just a standard contrack...just sign right here.”
Contrary: Obstinate, perverse. “Cecil’s a fine boy, but she won’t have nothin’ to do with him. She’s just contrary, is all Ah can figure.”
Cooter: A large turtle found in Southern streams that supplemented many Dixie diets when the Yankees came down during Reconstruction and carried off everything that wasn’t bolted down. “Goin’ to the hardware store? Get me some cooter hooks.”
Costes: The price of something. “Don’t buy lettuce if it costes too much.”
Crawss: The symbol of Christianity. “Ah love to hear ’em sing ‘The Ole Rugged Crawss’.”
Crine: Weeping. “What’s that girl crine about?”
Cuss: Profane language, or a malediction. “The Hope Diamond has got a cuss on it.”
Cut awf: To switch off. “It’s too bright in here, honey. Why don’t we cut awf that light bub?”
Cut the fool: To behave in a silly or foolish manner. “Quit cuttin’ the fool and do your homework.”
Cyst: To render aid. “Can Ah cyst you with those packages, ma’am?”
and
“More How To Speak Southern”
Caint: Cannot. “Ah just caint understand why this checkbook won’t balance.”
Carry: To convey from one place to another, usually by automobile. “Can you carry me down to the store in yo’ car?”
Cawse: Cause, usually preceded in the South by the adjective “lawst” (lost). “The War Between the States was a lawst cawse.”
Cayut: A furry animal much beloved by little girls but detested by adults when it engages in mating rituals in the middle of the night. “Be sure to put the cayut outside before you go to bed.”
Cent: The plural of cent. “You paid five dollars for that necktie? Ah wouldn’t give fifty cent for it.”
Chalstun: A city in South Carolina that Yankees call the Cradle of Secession. “Ah don’t know why they’re so upset. All we wanted was Fort Sumter back.”
Cheer: A piece of furniture used for sitting. “Pull up a cheer and set a spell.”
Chekatawlfarya?: An expression that is rapidly disappearing because of the gasoline shortage, but one that still may be heard by baffled Yankees at service stations in small Southern towns. It translates as “Check that oil for you?”
Chimbley: What smoke comes out of. “Ah bleeve that chimbley’s stopped up.”
Chitlins: It is said that there are two things you should never see being made: laws and sausages. Chitlins are another. Chitlins, which can smell up the whole county when being cooked, are boiled and fried hog intestines. Delicious, if you can forget what they are. “Ah’ll have another plate of them chitlins.”
Chunk: To throw. “Chunk it in there, Leroy. Ole Leroy sure can chunk ’at ball, can’t he? Best pitcher we ever had.”
Claws: An appendage to a legal document. “You’d be advised to study that claws very carefully.”
Clawth: A woven material from which clothes are made. “Let me have three yards of that clawth, please.”
Clone: A type of scent men put on themselves. “What’s that clone you got on, honey?”
Co-cola: The soft drink that started in Atlanta and conquered the world. “Ah hear they even sell Co-cola in Russia.”
Collards: A variety of kale, also known as greens. Southerners love them cooked with fatback, also known as the bacon that didn’t quite make it. “Pass the collards, please.”
Collie flare: A crisp white vegetable that is surprisingly good once you get past the appearance. “Lots of boxers have collie flare ears.”
Comin’ up a cloud: An approaching storm. “Stay close to the house. It’s comin’ up a cloud.”
Commence to: To start or engage in some activity. “They got in a argyment, and the next thing you know, they commence to fight.”
Commite nigh: To come very close to. “When -Sue--Ann caught her husband kissin’ that waitress from the Blue Moon, she commite nigh killin’ him.”
Contrack: A legal document, usually heavily in favor of the party who draws it up. “It’s just a standard contrack...just sign right here.”
Contrary: Obstinate, perverse. “Cecil’s a fine boy, but she won’t have nothin’ to do with him. She’s just contrary, is all Ah can figure.”
Cooter: A large turtle found in Southern streams that supplemented many Dixie diets when the Yankees came down during Reconstruction and carried off everything that wasn’t bolted down. “Goin’ to the hardware store? Get me some cooter hooks.”
Costes: The price of something. “Don’t buy lettuce if it costes too much.”
Crawss: The symbol of Christianity. “Ah love to hear ’em sing ‘The Ole Rugged Crawss’.”
Crine: Weeping. “What’s that girl crine about?”
Cuss: Profane language, or a malediction. “The Hope Diamond has got a cuss on it.”
Cut awf: To switch off. “It’s too bright in here, honey. Why don’t we cut awf that light bub?”
Cut the fool: To behave in a silly or foolish manner. “Quit cuttin’ the fool and do your homework.”
Cyst: To render aid. “Can Ah cyst you with those packages, ma’am?”
