Texasisms: A Glossary of Texan
89Texas.
Learn A Little Texan.
When traveling abroad, it is usually wise to learn a few words and phrases in the native language to help in case you find yourself in a jam. It is also wise to learn a little about the native culture to make you appear less touristy.
For example, should you choose to make Texas your travel destination, you should know that Texas was once its own country called the Republic of Texas. Also, most of the native Texans do not yet realize this is no longer the case. They are very sensitive about their homeland. Tread lightly. Don't mess with Texans.
However, Texans do speak a form of English (pronounced "Ainglish" in Texan), so the language should not be much of a barrier. There are a few key differences, though. For example, I do not believe the heading "Learn A Little Texan" to be ambiguous for English speakers, but it may be for a speaker of Texan (prompting one to go meet a shorter Texas native). It is these subtleties that you need to master before your trip to the Lone Star State.
When traveling in Texas, please feel free to carry this handy guide to Texas speak with you - trust me, you will need it.
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Texasisms.
Ah - (ah). The letter "I" or the sound produced by the long "i", as in ahce (ice), tahr (tire), lahk (like), or mah (my).
All git out - (all-git-out). To a great degree, exceedingly, or as much as possible, as in, "She was madder'n (see 'n below) all git out!"
Ah'ite - (ah'ite). Alright, as in, "Is ev'thang (see ev'thang below) ah'ite?"
Bald - (bald). Boiled, as in, "Cook me up a hard bald egg."
Big'o - (big-oh). Big ol', big ole, or big old, as in, "That sure's a big'o truck."
Caw - (caw). Call, as in, "Caw may (see may below) later."
Done - (dun). Done, completed, broken up, or tired, as in "the chicken's done", "we're done", or "I'm done."
Ev'thang - (ev-uh-thang). Everything, as in "Is ev'thang ah'ite (see ah'ite above)? See also thang below.
Fixin' - (fix-in). About, when used with to, pronounced "tuh", as in "I'm fixin' tuh go to the game." Or, the whole of the side dishes included with a meal when made plural "fixins", as in "We're havin' turkey and all the fixins."
Gimme - (gi-mee). Give me or give to me, as in "Gimme a break."
Get/Got on at - (get or got-on-at). To gain or to have gained employment from, as in, "Johnny's gonna' (see gonna' below) try to get on at the feedlot next week," or "Johnny got on at the feedlot last week."
Gonna' - (gun-uh). Going to. See get/got on at above.
In'thang - (in-uh-thang). Anything, as in "Do we need in'thang from the store?"
Jeetjet - (jeet-jet). Did you eat yet(?), as in, "Jeetjet? Squeat." (See squeat below).
Real Men of Genius - Mr. Way Too Proud of Texas Guy.
Real Men of Genius - Mr. Way Too Proud of Texas Guy II
Real Men of Genius - Houston, Big City in a Really Big State.
Kicker - (kick-ur). The deciding or utmost motivating factor, the last and typically most persuasive reason or argument. As in, "...and here's the kicker..."
Libel'ta - (libel-tuh). Liable to, or, more appropriately, likely to, as in "He's libel'ta go off and do sumpin' (see sumpin' below) stupid."
May - (may). Me, see caw above.
'n - (un). Than, when following a descriptive, as in "bigger'n Dallas" or "madder'n all git out (see all git out above)."
Nuttin' - (nut-in). Nothing, as in, "I ain't got nuttin'."
O' - (o). Ol', ole, or old, an article like "the" or "a", especially when applied to persons or animals, as in "O' Scooter is good o' boy (or dog)."
-Off - (off). A condition or state of being when appended to the end of a descriptive, as in "The doc says Jim's pretty bad-off." Others include good-off, well-off, and the more familiar ticked-off, hacked-off and, of course, p'd-off.
-Out - (out). Appended to a verb to form seemingly interchangeable present tense descriptives, as in wore-out, give-out, plum-out.
- Note: for the present perfect tense of verbs ending in "n" or "en", drop the "n", as in wore-out (not worn out).
Ov'air - (ohv-heir). Over there, as in, "Where are my shoes? They're ov'air."
Piddlee'o - (pid-lee-oh). Small, or a small amount, as in "Ain't you just a piddlee'o thang."
Place - (place). A particular though perhaps undefined parcel of property often preceded by a proper noun to provide definition, as in "the o' (see o' above) Johnson place." Not to be confused with the English slang "place" meaning residence, as in "my place" or "your place". If you want to invite a Texan over to your "place" and the "place" to which you are refering is a 400 sq. ft. apartment, expect to be escorted to the nearest state line.
Purt/Purtee - (pert or perty). Pretty. Omit the last syllable when preceding a descriptive, "Joe's purt well-off (see -off above)," pronounce the last syllable when referencing attractivness, as in "She's show 'nuff (see show 'nuff below) purty!"
'R - (are). Our, not to be confused with "are".
The Republic of Texas.
Show 'nuff - (show-nuf). Sure enough, an intensifier (see "She's show 'nuff purty" above) or state of agreement, as in "That was some good fishin' today, wat'nit (see wat'nit below)? Show 'nuff."
Squeat - (squ-eet). Let's go eat, as in "Hungry? Squeat."
Sumpin' - (sump-un). Something, as in "Sumpin's gotta' give."
Swate - (swate). Sweet, as in "Gimme' (see gimme above) a large swate tay (see tay below)."
Tak'n'ta - (take-un-tuh). Taking to, to have commenced or begun to enjoy, as in "He's tak'n'ta drinkin' again" or "She's really tak'n'ta him."
Tank - (tank). A pond (typically man-made) primarily for watering cattle, and to a lesser degree for fishing and/or swimming, as in "We went swimmin' down at the tank."
Thang - (thang). Thing. A universal pronoun, as in "little o' thang" or "ugly o' thang".
-Up - (up). Appended to the verb form to connote a final or conclusive condition or state of being, as in "He's gussied-up." Others include fired-up, worked-up, tied-up (not literally tied up as with ropes or chains, but similar to eat-up, see eat-up below), cowboyed and/or cowgirled-up, bowed-up (agitated and aggressive or threatening).
- Note: as with -out above, for the present perfect tense of verbs ending in "n" or "en", drop the "n", as in eat-up (not eaten-up) and tore-up (rather than torn-up, meaning emotionally wounded not ripped).
Up'dee - (up-dee). Uppity, insolent as in "You better quit bein' up'dee with your mom."
Var'mit - (var-mit). Varmint, any small animal particularly when being hunted, as in "Me and o' (see o' above) Jack went var'mit huntin' this mornin'."
Wat'nit - (watt-nit). Wasn't it(?), an interrogatory typically appended rhetorically to a statement where only agreement is sought, see show 'nuff above.
-Way - (way). Similar to -off above, as in "He's in a purt (see purt above) good-way."
Whole 'nuther - (hole-nuther). A whole other, an indicator of something altogether differen, as in "That's a whole 'nuther can o' worms."
Worsh - (worsh). Wash.
Yankee - (yank-ee). Any person born north of the Red River.
Yer - (yer). Your.
Yonder - (yon-der). An indication of any direction or any location other than the location of the speaker, typically following a modifier, as in "up yonder", "down yonder", "out yonder", "in yonder", "over yonder", and, when appropriate, "under yonder". Shakespearean English ain't got nuthin' on Texan.
More Texas Slang.
Texas Travel Info.
- Texas Online
The Official Website of the State of Texas. - TravelTex.com
Interactive Texas Map and Activities and Events Calendar. - All Across Texas
Texas Travel Guide. - TourTexas.com
Travel Guide and Tourist Information - WildTexas.com
Texas Outdoor Travel and Recreation.
Rules to Remember.
Should you ever find yourself in Texas without an English-Texan dictionary or this handy guide, here are five simple rules to remember, and possibly save your hide.
1. Shed Syllables. In almost any three syllable word, you can contract out any vowel from the middle syllable to make a two-syllable word and sound more Texan.
- Examples: Italy = It'ly, Florida = Flor'da, Johnathan = John'than, Melody = Mel'dy.
2. Forget the G's. Never, ever pronounce the "g" in words endin' in "ing". This is a dead giveaway that you are a Yankee cruisin' for a bruisin'.
- Examples: Fishin', Cookin', Readin' and Writin'.
3. "L's" Are Optional. Ignore "L's" following vowels in the middle of words or simply replace them with "W's".
- Examples: Light Bub (Bulb), Code (Cold) Outside, and Caw (Call).
4. Wing It (If You Dare). Let the metaphors fly. Texan is nuttin' if not colorful, so go to town, make stuff up, invent words if you must. Alliterate, elaborate, and incorporate.
- Examples: "Heck, it's hotter'n a hog on a hot plate." Why not? Sounds Texan to me. You can also compare anything to a 3$ bill (weirder'n a $3 bill), add "fire" to any exclamation ("Crap fire boy, what's the matter with you?"), or make up inoffensive curse words (dad gum it, gosh darn it, dag nab it, dad blazes, etc.).
5. Know When to Fold 'Em. One of the most popular bumper stickers in Texas reads "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could." Yeah, right. You're not a Texan. There is no citizenship test, membership card, or minimum residency requirement. You either are privileged enough to have been born in the Republic of Texas or not. It's okay if you weren't, just accept it. Go ahead, root for the Cowboys, wear your cute little outfits at the honky tonks, and display your bumper stickers. You are always welcome, you're just not a Texan...but be thankful, your kids can be.
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Comments
Thanks, we are native Texans, but we frequent Tennessee. My wife went to college at Belmont. Thanks, Wbisbill.
Nuttin' piiddlee'o about this hub. As usual a great read. (Man-o-man this is gonna get comp'icated) Caw may for the next lesson...
regards Zsuzsy
Will do, Zsuzsy, thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed. I'm always glad to help northerner.
My grandfather was from Texas (outside Waco) - even though he lived in Washington state the last 60 years of his life, there were certain things he said that I could never understand! My favorite was when he asked me to get the "flashwater." I guess that's Texan for "fly-swatter." :-)
Brilliant hub. A difference in accent or syntax can make a potential relationship or break it, make a new friend or miss the opportunity.
I treasure our regional differences. When I'm here in the northeast, I put my groceries in a bag. When I'm with my Ohio relations, I put them in a sack, and ask for pop instead of soda. I also "woish" my hair instead of wash it, and say "God love 'er little heart," every chance I get.
With your primer, I think I can do OK in TX.
This was hilarious. i was in Fort Sam Houston for a bit in the Army and witnessed some of this first hand. God bless Texas!
Shucks--this hub is cuter than a speckled pup:-) I loved it. There is a language lab in Texan on TV daily--it's called The Dr. Phil Show LOL. Students can perfect their accents by listening to Dr. Phil who is just "slicker 'n s**t on a hoe-handle. Dang--this is a real good hub an ahm givin it thumbs up:-)
Peter,
Only Texas would have it's own Embassy in London, England. (Texas Embassy and Cantina) In fact I have been there and it is as brazen as Texas itself. After living with a Texas room mate in college for a year, and having my son live in Texas for two years, I have become quite familiar with the "Texas" mentality. The guide to speaking in Texas is truely helpful, but I am surprised you didn't mention how many flags Texas is allowed to fly, and what the flag etiquette is (for example the height the state flag is allowed to fly vs the national flag...)or some history of that sort... enlighten us my friend....lol Perhaps an entirely different Hub would be needed. Then again, maybe you could even include who really shot JR? I think the only other state that could compare to Texas in attitude is California! lol
Very helpful guide, for a Yankee like me. :) I have met a few charming Texans over the years, and really stuggled to understand them!
Thanks, steph. If your dad was from Waco, then you know very well what I'm talking about. Yes, it is "flaaaahshwater".
I'm sure you would do well Sally. Texas is actually large enough that we have our own regional accents. East Texas for example is more more twangy like the rest of the South, whereas West Texans have a drawl. South Texans and North Texans also have very distinct accents. We are our own melting pot.
Thanks, Rodney. Thank you for your service...yes, God bless Texas indeed. He most certainly did.
Robie, too kind. Although I'm somewhat ashamed to admit it, yes, Dr. Phil does quite well with his Texan. Thank you very much.
Absolutely, Doghouse, we can fly our flag at equal height to the US flag, and I believe we are authorized to fly 6 flags. Of course, you do realize that we are only a state by treaty between the US and the Republic of Texas. This was actually the subject of a law school assignment I had my first year of law school. Perhaps I will do more Texas hubs (the treaty might be a good subject).
That's okay, amy jane, we struggle to understand Yanks all the time. You guys talk too fast, or, should I say, Ya'll talk too fast. I do have trouble with that one, I still can't bring myself to say "ya'll", perhaps it's a genetic defect.
Hmmm I seem to remember from some history class that Texas is also the only state in the union that has the right to divide itself into five states if it wants to. Am I crazy or is that true? Hmmmm now that would throw a joker into the 2008 election :-)
My wife is originally from Texas and her whole family still lives there. The "Texas dictionary" is hillarious, but the best made point is the one about Texans still not realizing that they're not their own republic. Great hub.
Damn Straight!
Hi Peter -
This is very funny stuff. Lets hope that Texans think so too! LOL
I spend quite a bit of time in Dallas, Tx. Three of my grandchildren are currently residents there, so I have been back and forth for the past five years quite a lot.
Perhaps these Texas-isms are found more in the deep southern parts of Texas. I have really not met up with too much of yer lingo in the parts I run when there?
Do you really still hear this stuff there? What parts are you most familiar with. It is my feeling, that if I were to throw this stuff out to the Texans I know - they would all just roll there big Texas eyeballs!
Nevertheless - I love this hub:-)
tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
I haven't heard that one yet, robie. I'll have to look into it.
That is absolutely true, safetyfirst. We still think we are our own country, and proudly I might add. Thanks for reading.
CS Alex, indeed. Absolutely.
Nana, that's because your kin folks are in Dallas. Don't get me wrong, we love Dallas, my own sister lives there, but Dallas has a higher proportion of immigrants (northerners) than most Texas cities, so it doesn't really count (city folk, and all). Go outside of Dallas a ways, just past the suburbs and find a local greasy spoon, then holler at me.
Well done!
Us Texans and Texians need to keep the 'skerr on em.
Absolutely, JD Murrah. We most certainly must. Thanks.
Amusing hub - as well as some of the responses! My grandpa and all his siblings were born in Texas too - he and my Gma (from Missouri) moved to Calif and even tho Gpa's name is Jim many call him Tex!
Tak n ta is my favorite!
There's a lot more here than i would of thought - good info! Was wondering why "Y'all" wasn't included, then see u referenced it in a response.
Thanks for the fun read!
I thought about including "ya'll" christinekv, but, quite frankly, it's been appropriated by everyone else. I hear it everywhere else, so I'm not sure it's distinctly Texan anymore. It probably should be, though. I'm glad you enjoyed.
Fantastic...As an Oklahoman, (that little speck of dirt jus' north of TX) I recognize and can attest to the validity and accuracy of all info. and pronunciations provided here! Funny to think of other places here in the USA that don't include these terms in their daily lives! One comment above noted "Damn Straight," I'll add my own "hot damn!" (as opposed to "cold damn" which i've never heard anyone say!) ND to LDSNana, yep, folks still really do talk this way...you must just know some of them hi' falutin' college hi-tech folks from 'round Austin.
hi'falutin' is a good one desert blondie. I should have included it. Thank you very much, even if you are from Oklahoma (at least you're close enough for it to rub off on you).
I'm about to marry a man who is from Houston and went to Texas A&M and served in the corp, so he is a true texan. I'm from OK. He calls me a Yankee saying "Anyone north of the Red River is a Yankee, and Dallas is pretty close!" He too believes Texas is its own country. And, I think you would find most of your dictionary in West Texas, near Snyder and Lubbock. My friends from there use all of those terms! Thanks for the laughs!
Thank you, hunter. He sounds like a true texan. Yes, my glossary comes from my experience in West Texas, but North, South, East or West, Texans are Texans, and foreigners are not. I'm glad you enjoyed, good luck on your marrige.
What a hoot! I heard some great texan out in the Pacific not so long ago- your reputation has gone far and wide.
Indeed. Texas does have a reputation even abroad. When we were in Israel last summer, everyone asked if we had horses. Thanks lifebydesign for reading.
You're not even that far from us in California, but apparently the language is more different than I thought :)
Are you kidding, we're a whole 'nuther country. :) Thanks, glassvisage, I appreciate you reading.
Nice hub, I've linked to yours from a hub of mine on Texas
Thanks, Ms. Amos, I appreciate that. I will search for yours and check it out.
remember yall us texans dont like them oakeys (oaklahomans)
hehe
cute
Jasper Hale is from Texas --- he's from Twilight in case you didn't know --- and so this was fun to read :)
xx
hehe
cute
Jasper Hale is from Texas --- he's from Twilight in case you didn't know --- and so this was fun to read :)
xx
Well I wouldn't "normally walk a mile to see a piss ant eat a bail of hay" but I have to clear a little something up. Texas did not join the Union by Treaty! Talk of Treaty was going on but Texas was offered Statehood by President John Tyler in doing this Texas got a little better deal than most States did. We were immediately a State instead of going through a probationary period as a territory! It is true that Texas can split into as many as 5 States!
If you do visit or wind up living in Texas there are some more things you need to know, "we don't care how you did it where you're from!" "The reason Texas does not fall into the gulf of Mexico is because Oklahoma sux!" "There are only two sports in Texas, Football and spring football!" And last but not least "George W Bush was born in Connecticut!" Liked the hub just had to clear that whole treaty thing up.
This is a great hub! Thanks for a good read, fellow Texan!
Loved your hub. I'm a native Texan and have now added you to my "Texas-Based Writers on Hub Pages" hub. For years, I quoted the bit about Texas being the only state allowed to fly our flag the same height as the US flag...well...when researching that topic, I discovered it wasn't true. Check out Snope.com on that one. Wikipedia evens shows it to be an urban legend.
I am a native Texan and never really thought I spoke that Texan. When I was reading akk the terms I realized I certainly do. Thanks for the laugh.
Well I consider myself a true Texan not only because I was born here, but I have also lived all up and down this great state including Ft. Worth, Haslet, Gainesville, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Laredo. I have family in Texarkana and grew up visiting East Texas a few times per year. These days I also frequent McAllen and South Padre and have close family in Dallas as well. The funny thing is that Texas is so huge that there are still many areas I am unfamiliar with as you can tell.
There are a few things I do know. Every city I have lived in or visited in Texas is completely different from any other. Each city is so unique. For example, Ft. Worth is a group of small town people living in a big city. Dallas on the other hand has a very "hi'falutin'" mentality where everyone seems to 'keep up with the Joneses'. Austin is very liberal, democratic, health conscious, and open to alternative life-styles (this is unique in itself when you think about how conservative and republican this state is as a whole). San Antonio is very Hispanic influenced (apparent by the demographics) from the food to the decor to the celebrations--Viva la San Antonio! I am not as familiar with Houston, but I can tell it is unique. It has some similarities to Dallas, but it is still quite different, and I can't put my finger on it (but I have also spent very little time there).
The language listed above is accurate, but it is heavier in some parts than others (which may be why some people experience more than others while visiting). Depending on where I have lived over the years has affected how much "Texan" I speak. Growing up near Ft. Worth had me speaking "Texan" strongly, but there are other parts where I have heard more strong "Texan" language than I have ever spoken myself.
A few important things to remember about Texas... yes we do think we are our own country. We strongly support Texas sports teams (and those who don't are just trying to get attention by being rebels). We WANT to attend Texas colleges (no one thinks about going to school out of state unless they weren't born here). We are proud, but we are friendly (unless you mess with us and then we'll grab the bull by its horns if you know what I mean). I absolutely love Texas and have no desire to leave--just short vacations elsewhere.
A few words that I think should be added to the list: ya'll (because even if other states have starting saying it, it still originated here), heck (and particularly awe heck), hafin' (which is how you say 'having'--such as hafin' to go to work), cuz (which is short for 'because' and can actually be a one-word answer to almost any question; it can also be a relative), and coke (which is a very general term that classifies all soda--be careful... just because someone says to bring them a coke, doesn't necessarily mean that they are asking for a coca-cola product).
If you don't believe we are proud people, just turn on the T.V. while here, and count how many commericials promote Texas to sell their products. Texas pride sells! This is one GREAT STATE!
When I worked at Intel I went to dinner with an engineer from northern India and his wife, and we had a good laugh talking' Texan. He had gone to college in southern Oklahoma, which is practically in Texas, you know. I'm originally from Abilene. What a funny, well-done hub! Great job.
Hi Peter, I'm a Longhorn (to non-Texans, a graduate of the University of Texas), and spent 1976-79 in Austin. To add to that credential, I worked in the highly successful establishment, Mad Dog & Beans. One of my favorite Texanisms is the way they pronounce the word "ice". Great hub!
Its all sterotyping language because not all texans talk like this just the rednecks
Its all sterotyping language because not all texans talk like this just the rednecks
Gotta love it!
you made my day. I'm British. I had to practise each word carefully. Are you sure Texan is not a whole nother language? Great1 Thanks
Nice collection Pete. But you left out one of our best ones---Earl as in "Change the Earl while yer attit"
Born in Bryan....Did I say Texas was in the Rose Bowl?
Is Texas still allowed to fly their flag the same height as USA?
Wbisbill says:
2 years ago
Great Job Show 'nuff! From out yonder in Tennessee - Wbisbill; thumbs up!