Southern Dialect

Most folks learn early on to speak the vernacular of the region in which they’re raised. Our vocabulary and dialect is often learned and instilled in us between the ages of two to six years of age. Therefore, when visiting the South you should remember that the dialect with which folks speak has nothing at all to do with their intelligence or their knowledge of the rules of grammar.

In the South, maybe more so than anywhere else, the verbiage people use when communicating does not indicate their level of education, intelligence, or social status. Their way of speaking is just the way things are done, the way they have been raised, and is certainly not an indication of laziness as some may believe.

If you are considering visiting the Southern region of the United States, especially down around the Georgia area, you really should know the basics of Southern dialect. Here are few of the most basic things you will need to know in order to be able to understand and communicate properly when in the South.

1. The suffix "ing" in all words is silent and should be pronounced as "n" or "in"
Example: Think’n, fix’n, hang’n, chew’n, leave’n, rain’in, speak’in

2. The word "you" is pronounced "ya."
Example: Where ya go’n to? Did ya milk the cows? Are ya sure?

3. Always combine words whenever possible and omit any unnecessary words like "are."
Example: Did’ya see the size of that snake? Why’ya dressed like that? Where’ya go’n?

4. The prefixes "a" and "be" are silent in the words "about" and "because."
Example: ‘Bout time ya showed up. They got divorced ‘cause he cheated.

5. "Am Not" and "Are Not" is always spoken as "Ain’t."
Example:I ain’t let’n ya ride my mule. Ya ain’t never right.

6. Potato or potatoes are pronounced tater or taters.
Example: Roy, go and dig me up some of them taters for supper. Leave that last tater for your dad.

7. If you have something (or some’in) to say that is negative always follow it with "Bless his/her soul."
Example: Mrs. Daisy’s niece is dumb as a sack of rocks; bless her soul. Mr. Jenkins’s is as bald as an eagle; bless his soul.

8. "Yonder" is the acceptable word when giving directions.
Example:He lives right over yonder passed Joe’s diner. Go down yonder to the bridge and turn left. Go yonder about a mile then turn right.

9. "You all" is always pronounced ya’ll.
Example: Are ya’ll com’n to the dance Friday? Where did ya’ll go on vacation?

10. Five of the most common words to use in place of swearwords are:
Dad burn it! Dag nabbit! Darn! Dang! Dad blast it!

In the South, you will find some of the friendliest, heart-warming, helpful, bible-believing folks you’ve ever run into. So please, ya’ll come visit, relax, have a glass of good ole ice tea, and enjoy our dialect. Oh, and feel free to join right in if’in you have a mind to. Bless your soul!


Bless your soul
Granny