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New England'isms

   
     My home state is Rhode Island.  No, it's not part of New York, no it's not the same as Long Island.  It is it's only little state on the east coast, which is part of New England.  Since the states there are so tiny compared to most, we are all very similar, and often it's just easier saying I'm from New England (even though I still get people questioning me about living in England when I say that!)
     New England is known for the Red Sox, Patriots, a faced pace of living, old buildings and a beautiful landscape.  It is also known for a way of speaking, and living that is not like the rest of the country.  I call these New England'isms.   I have been out of New England for about 9 years now.  I still get frustrated when people do not know what I'm talking about.  Some things are second nature to me, and it is odd to me that I have to explain them to people.  Here is a list of different New England'isms that I have compiled.


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  1. Dunkin Donuts - There is a DD on almost every corner in New England.  Seriously, when you decide which one you want, it's not what you want there, but which one you're going to go to because there is 25 stores all equidistant from any point you are at!!
  2. Sox vs Yankees - Any time these two teams play against each other, you MUST pick a side.  And if you pick the wrong one watch your back.  This is a live or die matter in New England.
  3. Jimmies - These are chocolate sprinkles of course, what else would they be?
  4. Nice? - If a strange is nice to you they either want something, or they are lost and from another state.  
  5. Landmark directions - People don't give directions by street names, but instead landmarks.  Except for 95.  "Take 95 south, take the cinema exit and turn right at the Dunkin Donuts."
  6. Massholes - These are the lovely folks from Massachusetts who insist on cutting you off, riding your a**, swerving between lanes, and any other obnoxious driving habits.  
  7. Coffee Milk - It's just like chocolate and strawberry milk, except coffee flavor.  It comes in a syrup bottle and everything.  On the same note, a little more well known, but still a New England native, is coffee ice cream.  This was a staple in my Grandparent's house and it seems so odd to me that most people have never heard of it.  
  8. Clicker - It's a remote, but a more obvious name. 
  9. Fluff-a-nutter - This is probably the one that I was really shocked at.  Most people, outside New England, do not know what Fluff-a-nutter is!  The gooey marshmallow sandwich spread should be known to every kid.  As I write that I realize I  have never given it to my children, which needs to be changed.  
  10. Dels - On a hot summer's day a Del's frozen lemonade is a staple in Rhode Island.  They are slowly franchising in other states which is great, because this is something that most can enjoy!
  11. Hoodsie Cup - Again, these are not known to all children?  I remember having these small cups of chocolate and vanilla ice creams, with their wooden spoons, on school ice cream days, and all the birthday parties!
  12. Pocketbook - As I moved around, I've realized that most people don't use this phrase for purses.  Honestly, it doesn't really make sense even.  It sounds like it should be a book that fits in your pocket.  But alas, it's just one of those crazy New England words.  
  13. Soda - Ok people, this one isn't weird. It's soda...NOT pop!  Pop is what you called your grandpa, or what you do to a person after they make you mad.  It's soda!
  14. Wicked - This is not referring the the musical, or how awful witches can be.  This is just an everyday adjective that increases another adjective that you can use for ANYTHING!  "Wicked awesome.  Wicked gross.  Wicked crazy.  Wicked fast."  Anything.  
  15. Bubbla - A water fountain.  Because water bubbles out of it?
  16. Band a uey - This sounds dirty when you say it, but all it means is turn at the U- turn.  
  17. Packie run - A common phrase, especially before a game or a cookout.  The package store to us New Englanders is just the local Liquor store.   So, going on a  'packie run', is just a quick trip to the liquor store.  
  18. No r's - We have gotten rid of this letter in our speaking language.  We don't say, "I need to go park the car", instead it's "Pahk the cah".  It's very obvious when I encounter a fellow New Englander, just by listening to them talk.
     Although some of these may sound silly to others, or just don't make sense, it's all too familiar to myself.  Whenever I hear any of these, it brings me back.

Comments

  1. Mary from Bridgewatah, MAMay 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM

    Must disagree just a bit. New Englanders get all their r's in before they die ... just not where you'd expect. The missing r's from some words are attached to many others, like pizzer (pizza) or idear, and even people, like poor Sarahr and Marthahr. Also, some will pronounce that ending r IF the following word starts with a vowel (JFK did), kinda like the French do with all their ending consonants. Also, that coffee milk thing....that's all RI, though Dels has finally made it up thru SE Mass., thank goodness. Stay strong, wherevah you ahh ... we know how things ottahbe!

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