Saturday, May 23, 2009

How to Speak Philadelphian


How to talk like a Philadelphian by Stu Bykofsky

Stu is a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News
which you would already know if you weren't from out of town.

A few tips from Stu's "Little Black Book"

Philadelphia, like many cities, has its own manner of speech -- how we tawk, if you will.

We gots our awn way aspeakin, and yuze can figger out wot weir sayen, by uzen Stu's pronunciation and translation guide to Philly's langwich:

•Ack A Mee: Acme, a local supermarket.
•Addytood: Attitude.
•Be Yoo Dee Full: Beautiful.
•Bin Dare: I've been there.
•Samson Shtreet: Sansom Street.
•Senner Siddy: Center City.
•Dah Iggles: Philadelphia Eagles.
•Dah Fills: Philadelphia Phillies.
•Dah Fliers: Philadelphia Flyers.
•Dah Semi Sixes: Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers.
•Downashore: The beach (as found along the New Jersey shore).
•Fluffya: Philadelphia.
•Goddago: I have to go.
•Goes: Use in place of "said," as in "He goes, `I'm not feelin' so good.'"
•Guh Head: Yes, you may do that.
•Langwich: Language.
•Jeet Yet?: Have you eaten yet?
•Jeez Take: Cheesesteak.
•King a Presha: King of Prussia.
•Mondee, Twosdee, Whensdee, Thirsty, Frydee, Saradee, Sunny: Days of the week.
•Niceta Meechas: Nice to meet you.
•Nint Shtreet: Ninth Street.
•Sammich: Sandwich.
•Scrapple: Local delicacy made from ground pork products.
•Scappleinecks: Scrapple and eggs.
•Siddy Haw: City Hall.
•Skeeve: Hatred/disgust. (Example: "I skeeve raw scrapple.")
•Skowne On?: What's going on?
•Sow Fluffya: South Philadelphia.
•Sow Shtreet: South Street.
•Trawley: Trolley.
•Wah?: Excuse me, what did you say?
•Weubin?: Where have you been?
•Whachoolookinat?: What are you looking at? (Often a challenge.)
•Yo: Either "hello" or "hey." (Should be used like expensive cologne. Sparingly.)
•Yo Supp. Hello, what is going on?
•Yunner Stan?: Do you understand?
•Yuze (youze, yiz): You people.

comments

8 Responses to "How to Speak Philadelphian"
  1. Anonymous said...
    August 9, 2013 at 2:31 AM

    I'm from Philly and most of these are wrong. No one here says sammich. Or flyffya and the days of the week. Etc.
    Phil-a-del-pheya
    Fry-day
    San-wich
    Need I say more.


  2. Anonymous said...
    September 23, 2013 at 11:50 AM

    Anonymous, sometimes we can be tone-deaf to our own accents. We certainly say Mon-DEE, toos-DEE, etc. Also, win-DUZZ, tuh-MAY-duzz, puh-TAY-tuzz...

  3. Anonymous said...
    August 2, 2014 at 3:40 PM

    Don't ferget paymint for sidewalk ann mare for mayor ann culvert for sewer. Alzo, tellypole dat holes up the lectick wires an warsh az in warsh ya face.

  4. Unknown said...
    November 5, 2015 at 12:58 AM

    That's so true! My husband grew up in Philly and talks like that. I've tried and tried to get him to speak correctly, but it's been instilled into him since birthday. Nothing I can do about it now.

  5. Unknown said...
    November 5, 2015 at 1:03 AM

    What about "yous guys"? As in Do yous guys want to come over?
    That should be on this list

  6. PamunkeyDeb said...
    November 17, 2015 at 8:45 PM

    May Dad always said sammach, and I still call those iron things in my house that give off heat "Radeators"

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  8. Anonymous said...
    November 15, 2023 at 11:06 AM

    I have been here most of my life and this is definitely an art form

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