In the south we may not all be country folk or small town folk, but we appreciate the homegrown, porch-sitting, tea-sippin’, take ‘er easy southern pace of living. We have our own way of doing things and often, we have our own way saying things. Words often mean something different than how they sound. We understand that if you didn’t grow up here, you might need translations for some of our favorite sayings. Ya reckon?
1. “Bless your heart.” “I’m so sorry.” or “You’re an idiot.”
This favorite phrase amongst Southerners is used on so many occasions. “Bless your heart” is used as way to express true sympathy, indicating a feeling of compassion or empathy for the subject of the blessing.
On the other hand, the phrase may be used in connection with a shake of the head and a roll of the eyes. In the latter usage, the feeling is not one of compassion but more of disbelief that the subject is out of touch with what’s going on or how something works.
Sympathy: “Joe’s wife run out on him and then he lost his job, too. Bless his heart.”
Unspoken meaning: “Joe’s really suffering. He is going through a lot.”
Veiled Insult: “Well bless your heart.”
Unspoken meaning: “Wow! You’re clueless. You really have no idea what’s going on. You should be glad you are pretty.”
2. BLT’s vs Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches
Why settle for a common-place bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich? Ditch the lettuce and deep fry those battered tomatoes, southern style!
3. Fire vs. “Far”
Not to be confused with the term “far” that indicates distance, “far” is simply southern for fire. So, don’t let the word “far” fool you into thinking we mean something different when we say:
“Betty, did’ja see that far engine that just flew by?” of “Joe Bob, go bring in some more wood for the far place.”
4. “In the distance” vs. “Yonder”
Unlike “far”, yonder is a measurable space to Southerners indicating that something is just a short distance away.
“Billy, where did you say the Smiths moved?”
“Up yonder, past Lorraine’s place.”
5. Wine vs. Sweet Tea
Don’t get us wrong, Southerners love to drink. But the the table wine of the south is definitely sweet tea.
6. Flip flops vs. Boots
Any way you wanna cut ’em, dice ’em and slice ’em, it don’t matter to us- boots are boots. And no matter how hot, a true Southerner will never be caught in flip flops. (See Daisy Duke )
7. “Dressed up” vs. “Gussied Up”
Your version of “dressed up” is probably a bit different than ours, so it only makes sense that we call it something entirely different, too.
“Whooo-weee, Roy, did you see Linda last night? She was all gussied up and lookin’ mighty sweet!”
8. Cake vs. Cobbler
If you’ve had cobbler, there’s no explanation needed here. If you haven’t, then whip out that apron, bust out the flour, follow this recipe, and then tell us if you will ever eat cake again!
9. Common Vegetables vs. Whatever this sign says
In the south, we love fresh vegetables, right out of the garden. But, unlike folks in other parts of the States, we don’t call them by their dictionary pronunciations like: tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, peaches, yellow squash, zucchini, okra and purple hull peas. Nope, we pronounce our veggies the way they should be pronounced! Don’t get confused and think we mean something different when we say “yeller.”
Sometimes things are just simpler in the south–and that’s just the way we like it!
We realize things operate a little differently down here, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. Proud of our traditions and our roots, we are Southern to the core. With every “y’all” and “fixin’ to” comes an “excuse me” and a “yes mam.” Doors are still opened for ladies down here, and we believe in tippin’ our hats when we say hello. Nights are spent chasing lightnin’ bugs (not fireflies) and though Dr. Pepper is often mandatory, shoes rarely are. We believe in hospitality, in courtesy and in mindin’ our manners. “Ain’t” is most definitely a word and the chicken will almost always be deep fried. We love porch sittin’ and talkin’ to our neighbors. We wave, say hello, and teach our children to respect their elders. As soon as you set foot on Southern soil, you’re transported to a time when people spoke kindly and spoke often.
The south is a special place. If you’re lucky enough to be one of us, we tip our hats to you. If you’ve never had the privilege of comin’ down, then come and see us. You may come a stranger, but you can only leave the South a friend!
