|
Goin-ah Boston College? "Mary, MUTH-ah, ah-gawed, you gotta be wicked smaht!"
But we bet you don't know some things. Like, what's a three decka? A packie? How about a rowtree? Ever banged a U-ey, worn dungarees, or awe-did (ordered) a frappe?
Even a Rhodes scholar would have a tough time deciphering the language Boston calls its own. "New Englanders have had a long and strong tradition of eccentric ways of expressing themselves, especially in Boston," said Boston University Linguistics professor Michael Feldman.
"It's very distinctive." Indeed -- and we'd have a pissah time tryin' to stump ya, then make fun of ya behind ya back . . . but that's wicked mean. Instead, here's a little primer to take with you on the T, while you're on the Common or in the Gahden, (Garden) maybe catchin' a Pats game, or sipping a reg-yah-lah coffee at Dunkies.
American Chop Suey -- Found in school cafeterias, this delightful dish doesn't resemble anything American or Chinese. It's macaroni with meat and tomato sauce.
Bangin' a U-ey -- This is what you do while driving after you miss a turn and you have to turn around.
Book it -- To high tail it someplace, as in, "I better book it to Stah Mahket (for those who are new to Boston it's - Star Market) before it closes."
Bubblah -- Spelled bubbler, it's a water fountain.
Der -- An interjection indicating disdain for someone else's stupidity, as in, "The old Gahden was way betta than the Fleet! Der!"
Down Cellar -- The basement. As in; "run down cella and get me a dishtowel outta the drya." Derived from upstairs.
Dungarees -- Jeans. Hardly heard anymore, unless you're at some sort of senior citizens event.
Frappe (pronounced FRAP) -- What the rest of the nation calls a milkshake. But in Boston, a milkshake is just flavored milk; no ice cream allowed.
Fried and Bizaarh -- Weird. "That dude is wicked fried." "Yah, he's totally bizaarh."
Fudge-icle -- To the rest of the world, a frozen chocolate pop is a Fudgesicle, but in Boston the 's' is silent.
Hermits and black and whites -- Cookies. A hermit is a molasses and raisin bar (wicked awesome). Black and whites, known anywhere else as half moons or half and halfs, are round, cakelike cookies with chocolate frosting on one half, vanilla on the other.
Jimmies -- Sprinkles CHOCK-lit (chocklate) or CULL-hid (colored) you put on ice cream.
Packie -- Liquor Store. You'll have to make a packie run if you want a kegga (keg party).
Pissah -- Good.
Rowtree -- traffic circle. And in Massachusetts, those in the rowtree have the right ah way.
Scrod -- a generic name for the white fish of the day. We think it's baby cod. Rumah has it, that if it spelled with an H - schrod, it's baby haddock. No one's sure. Usually breaded and laden with buttah (and Dee-Lish-Us).
Spuckie - What the rest of the nation calls a Submarine Sandwich. Sub, Hero, or Grinder may also be heard for same. Let's get an Italian Spuckie at Frank's.
So Don't I / So Aren't I -- So do I, So am I. "I have tickets to Aerosmith tonight." "Oh my Gawd, so don't I!" "No Suh!" "Yah huh." "Wicked Pissa!"
Three Decker -- Pronounced three decka, it's a three story house in which each story is a separate apartment.
A time -- A party. "We're going to a time for Sully at McGuire's."
Tonic -- Soda.
Wicked -- Extremely. "Nomaah's a wicked good baseball playa."
Yah huh and no suh -- Yes and no. Usually heard during an intense conversation. "I saw Mickey at Cassell (Castle) Island and he was with another girl." "No SUH!" "YAH huh."
Other tips: Don't say COPEly Square, it's COPPley. Worcester isn't WOOster, it's Whuuhs-stah. Say Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue or Dorchester Avenue and you'll get pinched. It's Comm. Ave, Mass. Ave and Dot.Ave.
. . . ya guttah luv us!
Back to Welcome to Boston Guide
|
