Southernisms

You're from the north? "Well Bless Your Heart"

While talking to some southern blogging friends, a discussion came up about how different things are in the north and the south. Ok, maybe I started the discussion. And it got me thinking, this would be a fun blog post. So with that- here are some of my favorite or most confusing southernisms (or things that are big no-no's in the south). Letterman top 10 style...

10. 

 Bless your heart- is this just a way to say I am sorry you are so clueless. Add the southern accent (yes southern friends YOU have the accent, not me) and you have the sweetest sounding insult on the planet. Look, even Urban Dictionary says so!!

9.

 Ya'll. No thanks ya'll! It is "you guys" all the way. Even if you are all girls, I will still say what are you guys doing instead of what are ya'll doing?

8.

 Ink pen- because what else would be in a pen? (I was told this is because the southern accent sometimes makes it sound like pin.. and well, we don't want people to think we are are writing with something we use to hold our pants up.."

7. 

Snow skiing- Someone said this to me once and I said WHAT?! It is just skiing. If I tell you I am going skiing, regardless of the location I am in, it means I will be on the snow. If I wanted to do this sport in water, I would tell you I was going water skiing. No worries- you won't find me skiing on snow or water. It would be a disaster!

6. 

Fixin' to (or shortened to finna)- no. I am sorry. If it isn't broken I am not fixin' anything. I am going to get ready for the party, but I am not fixin' to get ready for the party. Too many words.

5. 

Buggy? That is a word for a stroller. The thing babies go in. Not a shopping cart. But I do hear it. My friend Crystal at the Library Fox has this story, and I laugh every time I think about it... " I went to WalMart with one of them and I asked him if we needed a buggy. He looked at me like I'd just sprouted a unicorn horn and tail. I pointed and he said, "You mean a cart? Buggies are for babies." Yes Crystal's step brother- I am with ya!

4.

Yuck Yuck and more Yuck. It isn't too sweet, it is just awful. Awful awful. I have to be the only person who doesn't like it! (Well except my husband, he doesn't count because he doesn't like any kind of iced tea.)

3. 

Yes- saying yes is what is expected. Apparently saying yea instead of yes is a no-no. And I say yea...all the time. (I do, however, say please and thank you. THAT is just common courtesy no matter where you come from.)

2.

Excuse me? If you can't hear something or need it repeated to clarify, in the south you should say excuse me. Me... I say Huh?! THIS is apparently a big no no in the south. I say it ALL.THE.TIME. I am not being rude, I am just either saying "I didn't hear you" or "I have no idea what you are talking about". And you can tell the difference between them in the tone in my voice. A simple "huh" means I didn't hear you. A "hu-uh?" means I have no clue what you mean. Huh can also be used like huh- isn't that somethin'? It is a very versatile word. I can't let it go!

1. Ma'am and sir- 

The epitome of sounding polite. Notice I said sounding. Because even criminals in the south will say ma'am and sir. Me- No, I never say them. It doesn't make me rude I promise. It just isn't typical to hear it in casual conversation up north. I have the hardest time saying it because it sounds so foreign to me.

Hi- my name is Gina and I am a northerner. All together now "Hi Gina!" I really am not rude, but sheesh some southerners might think so. So to all my southern friends, readers, etc- I apologize for my lack of southern! And my poor daughter is going to have a tough time of it when she goes to school because we don't say

Oh and I forgot one- having your picture made. I have my picture taken, not made. :)

DISCLAIMER- this is all in good fun. I love each and every one of you, no matter where you are from!