30 Words That Mean Something ENTIRELY Different In Tennessee
Meghan Kraft
Author
When Tennessee is home, you learn to speak the language and come to understand a couple of words and phrases that the state just gets right. We’ve put together a quick list for you out-of-towners, all of y’all that maybe just don’t know how the state ticks just yet. Now worries. We got you.
30) Hot Chicken: This? Means delicious and fried and Nashville. Also, it’s burn-your-tongue-off good!
29) Fixin’: Used in lieu of, “I’m going to,” or, “I will.”
28) Sweet Tea: All tea in Tennessee. Ever. All tea is sweet because HOW ELSE WOULD YOU DRINK IT?!
27) Grizzlies: Not a bear, but the Memphis basketball team.
26) Titans: Not a race of fantastical people in Greek mythology, but yeah – another sports team. Tennessee Titans, kids.
25) Y’all: You all. Everyone. All you peeps. It works for all of ’em.
24) Preds: Short for, “Predators,” as in, the Nashville Predators. HOCKEY.
23) Smashville: Where thus stated, “Preds” do their thing.
22) Vols: Knoxville. Orange. Football. Tennessee Volunteers, everyone.
21) Buckle on the Bible Belt: This refers to Nashville. Music City is the buckle, right in the middle of the religious south.
20) Athens of the South: Again, Nashville. For being a city rife with colleges. Nice work!
19) Goo Goo: No, not a baby or a really bad pet name. It refers to the amazingly delicious Goo Goo Cluster, a Tennessee staple.
18) Toboggan: It’s a beanie! Not a sled.
17) Hose Pipe: Just your regular ‘ol garden hose.
16) Bleedin’ Orange: In east Tennessee you bleed orange, not red – for the Vols.
15) Bless Her Heart: You can pretty much follow up any insult with, “bless their/her/his heart” and that makes it okay.
14) Moonshine: Originally illegal alcohol, the term originating in temperance. You can buy it now, though!
13) RC: RC Cola! Southern fare.
12) Suga’: A term of endearment similar though not the same as, “sugar,” which northerners say.
11) Tennis Shoes: Means sneakers. All kinds of sneakers, not just those used for tennis.
10) Skullbone: Little town Tennessee
9) God love ’em: Means that God better love ’em because I sure don’t
8) Meat and three: The typical southern dinner. Meat and three sides, heavy on the carbs.
7) Common: This pretty much means there ain’t nothin’ special about you. Usually used with a bad connotation.
6) Crick: That little creek down yonder. A small body of running water.
5) Winder: Refers to a window.
4) Family: Everyone which whom you share blood or just really like a lot.
3) Membership: What church do you attend? Where are you a member?
2) Game Day: All hell has broken loose.
1) God’s Country: Tennessee. HOME.
There you go. A mini-Tennessee dictionary, just for you. What do you think? Anythin’ new? Tell us in the comments below!
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