Here Are 25 Words That You’ll For Sure Understand If You’re From Alabama
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Jennifer Young
Author
Alabama is known for its southern slang. That’s no secret! We even have our own vocabulary here that some visitors just don’t understand. Here is a list of 25 words/phrases that you’ll definitely understand if you’re from Alabama.
1. Pickup
In other states, the word "pickup" means to pick something up. Here in Alabama when someone says "pickup", they're referring to a truck.
2. Tide
Sure, the word "tide" in other states may refer to a water formation or a brand of laundry detergent, but here in Alabama when someone says "tide", they're referring to the Crimson Tide.
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3. Buggy
In other places you may use a shopping cart or grocery cart, but in Alabama we use a buggy.
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4. Reckon’
5. Lord willing
6. Trailer
Some people think of a movie trailer as soon as they hear the word "trailer". If you're from Alabama, the first thing to come to mind is either a type of home where many Alabamians live or something to hook up to the back of a pickup to haul things.
7. Houndstooth
To others, "houndstooth" is simply a tooth belonging to a hound. To us here in Alabama, it's a pattern worn by many University of Alabama fans on game day.
8. Pot Luck
Here in Alabama we love to get together to eat. When everyone gets together, each person brings one of their favorite dishes. This is a "pot luck" meal. If someone says "pot luck" in Alabama, it's implied that it's one of these meals.
9. Goin' to the beach
In Alabama, if someone says they're "goin' to the beach," it's implied they're either going to Gulf Shores or across the state line to PCB.
10. Oh my goodness gracious!
11. Kinfolk – friends or relatives
12. Yonder way – anywhere out of visual distance
13. Mash
Here in Alabama we mash things instead of smash. For example, I've never eaten smashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes all the way!
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14. Coke
Everything here in Alabama is a "coke" and we don't use the words "soft drink" or "pop".
15. I’m fixin’ to – means one is about to do something.
16. As slow as molasses
17. Goin' to the store
If you're from Alabama you know that going to the store can mean the grocery store, liquor store, convenient store, gas station, etc. We don't always say exactly which store we're going to. We just simply say, "I'm goin' to the store."
18. Milk Sandwiches
We take "potential snowfall" very seriously here in Alabama. Even the slightest mention of snow sends people into panic mode and within a few hours, there's no milk or bread to be found anywhere.
19. Ain’t – is not
20. Preachin’ to the choir – when you say something that is very obvious to those who are listening.
21. Y’all – you all
22. LA – In Alabama, LA means “Lower Alabama” – not Los Angeles or Louisiana.
23. Meemaw & Peepaw
Here in Alabama we give our grandparents special names such as Meemaw, Peepaw, Nanna and Pop Pop.
24. Goin' to the shelter
If someone in Alabama says they're "goin' to the shelter," chances are they're going to the tornado shelter.
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25. Buck / 10 Point or 12 Point
We use the word "buck" a lot here in Alabama. If you hear us say this word, we're not referring to a dollar bill. We're referring to a male deer. We're also referring to a male deer if we say "10 point" or "12 point".
This is just a short list of the many words and phrases used here in Alabama. What words or phrases can you add to the list?
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