Southernisms. Ways to know you are Southern at heart.
Have you ever asked someone how’s their Momma and ‘em? Have you blessed someone’s heart or called someone “sugar”? Then maybe you were meant to sashay down South.
Here are 10 phrases and terms that could label you a Southerner. Even if you call home somewhere up north in those cold states, if you’ve ever said any of these, you could be an honorary Southerner.
- You understand the proper terminology of the word “y’all.” A contraction of the word “you all” is not a word to randomly use in place of “you.”
1 person = you
2—4 people = y’all
5+ people = all y’all
- You’ve used the term “the other day” to mean anything from yesterday to sometime this year.
- You’ve never actually been cotton picking, but you’ve been told you’ve lost your “cotton pickin’ mind” a time or two.
- You’ve actually used the phrase “used to could.”
- Someone’s told you (or you’ve yelled at a child—yours or someone else’s!) that you’d better “cut that out!” and no one was talking shapes and scissors.
- You have, once or twice, “flown off the handle.”
- When you say, “I’m fixin’ to!” it means you are about to do any given task.
- You’ve called someone “madder than a wet hen.”
- You’ve “burnt daylight” while someone else was in a hurry.
- You have a “twang.” Because accents are for Yankees.
What about you? Have you used any of these Southernisms before? Comment below!
One winner gets a prize pack from Stephenia H. McGee including:
1 ebook
The Cedar Key recipe booklet
The Cedar Key coloring sheet
Bible verse pintables
Don’t miss Stephenia’s Small Town Southern Contemporary, The Cedar Key Releasing October 6, 2020
About the book:
Could the key to Casey’s future be hidden in someone else’s past?
Casey Adams unexpectedly inherits an old Victorian house full of other people’s memories. Stuck in a quirky little Mississippi town, Casey’s hope for a fresh start died as soon she had to lay the grandmother she’d just met to rest.
But Grandma Ida carried secrets beyond the grave.
Before her death Ida carefully planned a trail of clues to help Casey unlock the Macintyre family secrets and finally explain why they abandoned her. But each of Ida’s letters will only come from Casey’s handsome—and often frustrating—new neighbor. As Casey pieces together the stories behind the objects filling her grandmother’s house, she embarks on a heart-stirring journey that rattles her foundations, ignites her faith, and leads her to a startling discovery that will reshape her future. But only if she can face the lies that have been slowly tearing her apart.
You can get yours at any of these retailers:
Amazon:
ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08F4M9T6T
paperback
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1635640520
B&N
Ebook
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cedar-key-stephenia-h-mcgee/1137565777?ean=2940164685591
paperback
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cedar-key-stephenia-h-mcgee/1137565777?ean=9781635640526
Kobo
Ebook
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-cedar-key
iBooks
ebook
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1529816955
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55223415-the-cedar-key?
BookBub
https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-cedar-key-a-small-town-southern-contemporary-by-stephenia-h-mcgee
And be sure to connect with Stephenia online!
https://www.facebook.com/StepheniaHMcGee
Thanks for having me today, Becca!
Anytime! <3
Guess I’m a true southerner cause I’ve used them all – and then some. 🙂
“The Cedar Key” is most definitely on my TBR list and can’t wait for the opportunity to read it.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thanks, Kay!
It’s SOOO good I hope you get the chance to soon!
Guess I’ve got a little Southern girl in me cause I say a bunch of those phrases. My students laugh at me when I say “all y’all” and “y’all.” 🤷♀️
Ha ha! There is a difference!
Apparently I live in a secluded section of my region that uses it while the rest doesn’t. They’re just missing out on the fun is all lol